DUBAI, United Arab Emirates – Canada’s Denis Shapovalov advanced to the quarterfinals in Dubai, defeating Japan’s Taro Daniel 6-4, 6-3 on Wednesday.
Shapovalov had three breaks on eight occasions, concluding the discussion in one hour and 23 minutes.
Sixth, Shapovalov scored the point in 21 of his first 24 balls in the game. A collection that includes six aces.
Ontarios beat Daniel for the second time in as many matches.
Shapovalov’s next opponent will be Ricardas Berankis, 99th in the world.
The Lithuanian won once in three games against Canada, 14th in the ATP.
Djokovic continues his return by dismissing Katsanov
Novak Djokovic continued his victorious comeback by eliminating Russia’s Karen Khatsanov (26th in the world) in the second round.
The 34-year-old Serb won a direct set, 6-3, 7-6 (2) in 1:37 in Dubai, where he returned to defend his No. 1 spot in the world, threatened by Russian Daniel Medvedev.
To the applause of the audience, Djokovic faced more difficulties in the second set, but was able to make a difference in the decisive game to easily win the tiebreak.
“There were breakpoints against me, but there was an amazing atmosphere. We like people to see us play and to cheer us up. “It touches me that so many people come to see me play”, he said after his victory.
“I like to travel and convey positive emotions to all the people who come to see me play! “, chained.
To oust the Serb from the No. 1 spot in the world, Russian Daniil Medvedev, a recent Australian Open finalist, must win the ATP 500 tournament in Acapulco to be sure he will take the throne at the end of the week, regardless from Djokovic’s result. in Dubai.
The Serbian champion on Monday fired Italian Lorenzo Musetti 6-3, 6-3 in the first round, for his first match since being sent off by Australia on January 16, where he could not defend his title from the Grand Tournament. .
His participation in Melbourne was canceled after a long confrontation with the Australian authorities because he had not been vaccinated against the coronavirus.
In Dubai, the No. 1 in the world can participate in the tournament, because no coronavirus vaccine is required to enter the Emirates.
“It is always a pleasure for me to play in Dubai in one of the biggest tournaments of the year. “I have had great memories of those five victories in the past and it gives me a lot of motivation to come back and play here in this tournament,” he said.
The Serb will face in the quarterfinals on Thursday the Czech Jiri Vesely (123rd), from the qualifiers who eliminated in two sets 6-2, 6-4 one of the men of the moment, the Spaniard Roberto Bautista (15th). ).
Rublev loses a set but enters in the ten minutes
Russian Andrey Rublev, the 7th player in the world, needed three sets to beat South Korean Kwon Soon-woo (60th) in the second round and has his sixth consecutive victory.
The Russian, a recent winner of the Marseille tournament, was surprised in the first set by the success of Kwon’s serve, 24, but recovered in the next two sets and won 4-6, 6-0, 6-3 in 1h42.
The 24-year-old Rublev will face the American Mackenzie MacDonald (61st) in the quarterfinals, who dominated with 6-4, 7-6 (7) of the Serb Filip Krainovic (44).
The Russian won the ATP 250 tournament in Marseille on Sunday, the ninth title of his career, defeating Canadian Félix Auger-Aliassime, 9th in the world, in the final.
Sinner beats Murray to advance to the quarterfinals
Italy’s Jannik Sinner (10th in the world) was steady on Wednesday to beat Britain’s Andy Murray (89th) in two sets (7-5, 6-2) in the round of 16.
The No. 4 in the Emirates tournament was patient in the first set, before winning a shutout in the opponent’s serve and finishing moments later against the former number one in the world.
The second set was short for Murray, the recipient of the invitation, who lost in 1:44.
Sinner, 20, will face Poland’s Hubert Hurkacz (11th) in the quarterfinals after No. 5 seed defeated Slovakia’s Alex Molcan (69th) in consecutive sets 6-3, 6-2.
