Denis Shapovalov is into the third round of the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells after beating Alejandro Davidovich Fokina in three sets 4-6, 6-4, 6-2 in two hours and 33 minutes.
The Canadian served seven aces and hit and 30 winners in the match where he was able to come back from a one-set deficit to win.
The world number 13 had a breakpoint in the first game of the match but the Spaniard was able to save it and hold serve. In the following game Fokina responded by breaking the Richmond Hill native for the early 2-0 lead. That one break of serve was enough for Spaniard to serve out the first set and take it 6-4.
Fokina continued to press at the beginning of the second set but the Canadian was able to save it and hold serve. It stayed on serve until 3-3 when Shapovalov had six chances to break and it took him till the sixth breakpoint to earn the break.
In the following game, the world number 45 tried to get the break back but was unsuccessful and the Canadian was able to serve out the second set.
Shapovalov had three chances to break in the first game of the third set and it was the third time lucky as he broke. The next two games were breaks of serve before he was able to consolidate a break to lead 3-1.
After consolidating the break the Canadian was hungry for more and set up another breakpoint with a sublime return backhand winner that went down the line and the following point broke serve once again to lead 4-1.
That was enough for the world number 13 to serve out the match and book a spot in the third round where he will face the American Rielly Opelka.
