(Paris) Canadian Denis Shapovalov qualified for the second round of the Paris Masters 1000 on Tuesday with a three-set victory of 6-7 (2), 6-3, 6-4 over Argentinian Francisco Cerundolo.
In that first career meeting with the 30-year-old Argentinian, Shapovalov collected nine aces, committed three double faults and won 78% of the points after placing his first ball in play.
The 23-year-old Canadian, 16e world player since his participation in the final at the Vienna tournament on Sunday, has faced only two break points, both in the second game of the match. He was unable to protect the second, wasting the break he himself had made in the previous game.
Thereafter, Shapovalov never came close to flinching on his serve, except in the tiebreaker of the opening set, when he conceded mini-breaks on the second and seventh points.
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Shapovalov scored the only break of the second set in game eight and added another at a crucial moment in the game in game nine of the deciding set.
In the second round, on Wednesday, Shapovalov will face the Spaniard Pablo Carreno Busta, ranked 14ewho defeated his compatriot Albert Ramos-Vinolas 6-3, 6-3.
If he wins, Shapovalov could face second-seeded Rafael Nadal of Spain in the third round.
Tomorrow, it will be the turn of Montrealer Félix Auger-Aliassime to play his first match at the tournament, when he will face Sweden’s Mikael Ymer, in a second-round duel.
Eighth player in the world, Auger-Aliassime will enter the tournament in search of a fourth title in as many weeks, after his triumphs in Florence, Antwerp and Basel.
Successful returns
The very last match of the day, between a rising star and a rival who has known several moments of glory, was almost the scene of a major surprise. Eventually, 19-year-old Dane Holger Rune withstood the onslaught of 37-year-old Swiss Stanislas Wawrinka to finally snatch a 4-6, 7-5, 7-6 (3) win in 2:29.
To reach the second round, where he will face Poland’s Hubert Hurkacz, Rune not only had to erase a setback from one set to zero, he resisted two match points in the 10e game of the second set, and to another, during the 12e game of the third inning.
Unhappy finalist on Sunday against Auger-Aliassime at the Basel tournament, Rune took control of the decisive game by making the first of two mini-breaks, on the third point, thanks to a smash. Another smash allowed Rune to materialize this difficult victory.
Earlier in the day, defending champion Novak Djokovic began his quest for a 39e title of the Masters 1000 series by beating American Maxime Cressy 7-6 (1), 6-4 in a second-round match.
Cressy saved three break points in the eighth game before committing two double faults in the first set tiebreaker. The Serb, who faced Cressy for the first time in his career, then won it by slamming an ace.
Cressy also double-faulted at 4-4 in the second set to give his opponent two break points, and Djokovic took advantage with a forehand winner in return. The ‘Djoker’ then sealed the outcome of the match with a winning backhand volley.
After triumphs in Israel and Kazakhstan, Djokovic extended his winning streak to 10 following his defeat at the Laver Cup in September. In the next round, he will face Karen Khachanov, who defeated Marc-Andrea Hüsler 6-3, 4-6, 6-4.
Meanwhile, Andrey Rublev and Hurkacz improved their chances of making the ATP Finals.
Rublev easily defeated John Isner 6-2, 6-3 in the second round, while Hurkacz got the better of local favorite Adrian Mannarino 7-6(5), 6-4 in the first round.
In other matches in the first round Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov beat Botic van de Zandschulp 7-6 (5), 7-6 (5), Frenchman Corentin Moutet stunned Borna Coric 3-6, 6-3, 6-4, Daniel Evans overthrew Brandon Nakashima 6-3, 3-6, 6-4, Jack Draper beat Arthur Rinderknech 6-3, 6-4, Fabio Fognini ousted Arthur Fils 7-6 (5), 6 -7 (4), 6-2, and Tommy Paul got rid of Roberto Bautista Agut 6-4, 6-4.
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