Shapovalov reaches the 3rd round in Madrid

By
Alex Boyden
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Denis Shapovalov is finding the solution also on his least favorite surface: the clay.

The upcoming Canadian struggles to find his game on the dirt and, as a confirmation, he crashed out in the openers of both Monte-Carlo and Budapest this year. However, the 19-year-old is having a decent run in Madrid to reach the 3rd round after defeating Benoit Paire.

The match

Even if Denis (word no.43)  has a better rank than Paire (no.50), the Frenchman was the favorite to clinch this encounter as he is more used to play on clay. Instead, it was the youngster to win the match in 3 sets. In fact, Denis started pretty well after he conquered the opening set at the breaker after Benoit failed to serve-out the set while leading 5-4. 

The Frenchman managed to make it even and to bring the affair to the decider, but it was Shapovalov to conquer the crucial (and only) break in the 5th game (3-2) before winning the match 7-6 (5) 4-6 6-4 in 2 hours and 9 minutes.

Denis will face either Grigor Dimitrov or Milos Raonic in the 3rd round. 

 


GOOD ALSO ON CLAY?     
                                 
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