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Shapovalov reaches the semifinal in Tokyo after saving 1 match point

5 October 2018

Denis Shapovalov is in the semifinal in Tokyo!

The Canadian had to battle hard in the quarters against an in-form Jan-Lennard Struff.

Ranked no.56, the German has been playing an extremely solid tennis for the entire event in Tokyo where he has also upset the seed no.1 Marin Cilic in the 1^st round.

Struff put a huge pressure on the Canadian to also gain a match point while leading 6-4 6-6 (7-6). Denis saved that match point with a very lucky net cord to then bring the affair to the third set. The Canadian got a lot of confidence after winning the second set as he sensed a huge shift in the momentum. Therefore, Denis became the better player in the third set to concede just 6 points on serve and to break Jan Lennard in the 3^rd game. Eventually, Shapovalov won the encounter 4-6 7-6 (7) 6-4.

Another opportunity to reach my first ATP final. SHAPOVALOV

The 19-year-old commented

“It’s another opportunity for me to try to make my first final at an ATP event. But honestly, like I always do, I take it one match at a time. I’m very happy to escape today and I have another tough match tomorrow… I’m not too focused on the situation. I’m just going to try to focus on the things that I could do well in terms of how I play tomorrow and what I do, my strengths and stuff like this. And yeah, just try to win the match. Obviously, it’s a good opportunity, but I’m just going to focus on the match itself.”