In the shock of the day, Australian qualifier James Duckworth took out second seed Ben Shelton in three sets to advance to the quarter finals where he plays Matteo Berrettini, who won comfortably against Denis Shapavalov.
In the first meeting between the two, Duckworth completed a 7-6, 4-6, 6-3 win in just over two hours against the American, who was playing his first match on grass this season and is still short of match play on the surface. Despite blasting 21 aces, he could not win enough points behind his second serve and lost the match – although he had won more marginally more points in total.
The 32-year-old Duckworth was formerly ranked inside the top 50 after claiming a personal-best 22 tour-level wins in 2021. However, he has been plagued by injuries since and has undergone nine different surgeries. He squeezed through the first set tie-break and despite a blip in the second set, refocussed in the decider and managed to break serve for the first time and make it count.
In the headline match of the day featuring powerful serving along with brilliant sliced backhands from two former top tenners battling their way back from injury, Matteo Berrettini overcame Denis Shapavalov 6-4, 6-4.
The head-to-head showed Shapavolov with a 2-0 record but both matches were over five years ago and both on hard courts. Interestingly, while both matches went to three sets, it was the Canadian who had won all four tie-breaks played.
“I knew that I hadn’t beaten him before,” said Berrettini aftrewards. “They were two tough matches although a long time ago. I knew I had to play my best tennis to beat him today. I know that in my career I have been pretty successful on grass, especially here and now let’s see if I can reach the semi-finals. I have to rest a little bit and think tomorrow about the next match. It was a perfect test for me to see my level, after a long time on grass, especially after the battle I had on Tuesday, I’m really happy to be through to the quarter finals.”
Both players played a high quality first set where once again serve dominated proceedings; Berrettini winning 82% and Shapavalov 83% behind first serves while both saved a breakpoint each. But in the game of tennis, double faults can be costly, especially if you do it at the wrong time. And it was the Canadian who threw in his one and only double fault when at breakpoint down to lose serve and go 4-5 down.
Berrettini took three hours to defeat Roman Safiullin on Tuesday but fortunately had a day off before today’s encounter, while Shapavalov fought from 2-4 down in the first set to win 7-6, 7-5 over qualifier Matteo Martineau despite ten double faults.
Shapavalov, who reached the semi-finals at Wimbledon three years ago before losing to eventual champion Novak Djokovic, was rattled midway through the second set when serving and heard some computer bleeps between his first and second serve to lose concentration and concede the break.
Berrettini was the first Italian man to reach the quarter finals of all four Grand Slams, and the only two-time winner of this event since it switched to grass in 2015, a place he clearly enjoys playing.
“I put a lot of emphasis on my serve, especially on the grass,” he explained. “It’s important to make him feel the pressure that when he is serving, he better not get broken, otherwise he will be in trouble. I like using the slice to come in on the grass, especially against the one handed backhand, it’s something that’s very useful. We practised a little bit together yesterday and this morning so I’m happy that it worked.”
Shapavalov was the second Canadian after Milos Raonic to break the top ten of the rankings in 2020, but has now dropped outside of the top 100. The Italian offered some words of comfort to his beaten opponent: “Due to our conditions, we both got injured, and that’s why I think he’s probably going to be in the top 50, 30, 20 really soon, we know his potential, and for me as well. I know how tough it is to come back after many injuries, so good luck to him.”
In the first match of the day, America’s Brandon Nakashima flashed winners from across the court and defeated French veteran Richard Gasquet in straight sets 6-3, 6-4 to advance to his second grass court quarter final in just 71 minutes.
Both players traded breaks of serve early in the first set before 70th ranked Nakashima took the decisive break to lead 5-3. He served out a love game to take the opener. He then broke again right at the start of the second set to take full control of the match.
Gasquet, in the draw as the highest lucky loser after top seed Alexander Zverev withdrew with fatigue after reaching the Roland Garros final, struggled to make much impact on his return games as Nakashima regularly ramped up the speed on his first serve. Still, he showed flashes of his trademark backhand late on with a couple of flourishing winners as the match neared the end. But even when the Frenchman had break back chances in the second set, the American saved them with huge aces.
“It’s never easy against a player like Richard, he has so much experience on the tour,” said 22-year-old Nakashima on court afterwards. “I’m just happy to win and with the way I played today. I served and volleyed at the important moments and happy to be in the quarter finals. I served well during the big points; it was very crucial to get the confidence. I was returning well and capitalising on the breakpoints I had was also very important.”
It was Nakashima’s first time in Stuttgart, and he also paid tribute to the crowd: “It’s a beautiful tournament, I’ve really enjoyed my time here so far and I’m happy to play again here tomorrow. Thank you all for coming out and I appreciate the support.”
The next match on Centre was a first tour-level meeting between another Frenchman Arthur Rinderknech and home hope Jan-Lennard Struff – who did not disappoint the home fans with a straight sets victory.
Games went with serve in the first set and neither player came close to a breakpoint – until the 28-year-old Rinderknech served at 4-5 down and Struff hit a forehand winner at 30-30 to bring up a set point. But though Rinderknech saved four set points in all, the scoreboard pressure finally told as Stuff converted on his fifth when approaching the net forcing an error from his opponent.
Rinderknech, who broke into the top 50 for the first time in January 2022, rallied well in the second set and took it to a tie-break but capitulated without winning a point as Struff completed a 6-4, 7-6 win.
The German has now reached his third Stuttgart quarter final in his last four appearances, missing a match point against Frances Tiafoe in last year’s final. “I was serving pretty good today, all match,” he said after the match. “That can put a bit of pressure on his service games if he doesn’t get a look on mine, I’m very happy with the result today. It’s very nice to play in Germany and amazing support always, so I really enjoy it.”
