Denis Shapovalov of Vaughan, Ontario, won his first-round match at the 2024 Shanghai Masters in China on Wednesday. Shapovalov, currently ranked 101st in the world, defeated Lorenzo Sonego of Italy, ranked 50th in the world, 7-6, 7-6. Shapovalov won the first set tiebreak 7-5 and the second set tiebreak 10-8.
In a match that lasted two hours and nine minutes, Shapovalov had a chance to tie the game in the second set tiebreak, but double-faulted to lead 7-6. However, Shapovalov regrouped and won three of the next four points. He made the mini-break and took a 9-8 lead when he fired an impressive shot over the line that Sonego couldn’t return, then won the match with an impressive backhand winner as he came into the net.
This was the second time in Shapovalov’s career that he defeated Sonego. Shapovalov also defeated Sonego 7-6, 3-6, 6-3 in the first round of the 2022 Italian Open.
Next in line for Shapovalov is number 16 seed Ben Shelton from the USA. Shelton defeated Shapovalov in Washington and Wimbledon earlier this year.
Shapovalov is one of two Canadians in the second round of Shanghai. The other is 18th-seeded Felix Auger-Aliassime of Montreal, Quebec, who will face Alexandre Muller of France. This will be their first face-to-face meeting.
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