Denis Shapovalov has ended his eight-match losing streak against top 10 players by upsetting top seed Taylor Fritz in the second round of the Dallas Open.
The world No.54 battled back from a set down to claim a 2-6, 6-3, 7-6(2), win over last year’s US Open runner-up. Shapovalov hit more winners than his American rival (37-25) and won 75% of his first service points. It is the first time he has beaten a top-five player on the Tour since the 2022 Italian Open when he upset Rafael Nadal.
“It feels incredible obviously. Taylor is a super tough opponent … He came out super solid and I came out a little sluggish,” ATP Tour quoted Shapovalov as saying. “It was difficult. I’m definitely happy with my fight. I’m happy I was able to turn it around in the second set and I was able to keep that momentum going.”
It is the first time this season Shapovalov has won back-to-back matches at a tournament. Earlier this year, he suffered a second round loss at the Adelaide International to Marcos Giron. Then at the Australian Open, he suffered another second round loss to Lorenzo Musetti who was seeded 16th in the draw.
Dallas is the third consecutive indoor tournament where Shapovalov has managed to reach the quarter-finals or better. At the end of 2024, he reached the last eight in Basel before going on to win the Belgrade Open.
In his next match, Shapovalov will play sixth seed Tomas Machac, who is yet to drop a set this week. Machac defeated Australia’s Rinky Hijikata 6-4, 7-6(0), in his latest match.
Machac is one of four seeded players to make is through to the last eight. Casper Ruud, who is the highest-ranked player left in the draw, will next play Japan’s Yoshihito Nishioka who knocked out Frances Tiafoe in the second round. Meanwhile, third seed Tommy Paul will next play Reilly Opelka and eighth seed Matteo Arnaldi faces Spain’s Jaume Munar.
