#NextGenATP Canadian Denis Shapovalov set up a must-see third-round showdown against Gael Monfils on Thursday at the US Open. The 20-year-old Shapovalov reached the third round of a Grand Slam for the second time this season (Australian Open), advancing past Swiss Henri Laaksonen 6-4, 7-6(2), 6-2 in less than two hours.
“I just tried to stay focused, kept on the gas, and I think I played really well in the big moments today. At 5-4 he felt a little bit of pressure, doubled a couple of times. I was able to make a good return or two, then played a good tie-break. In the third set, I think I just maintained my level, and he went away a little bit,” Shapovalov said.
The left-hander hit 38 winners, including 14 aces, and never faced a break point against the 27-year-old Swiss. Shapovalov is backing up the form he showed last week when he reached his second semi-final of the season at the Winston-Salem Open (l. to Hurkacz).
The Canadian is working with former World No. 8 Mikhail Youzhny of Russia on a trial basis, a relationship that started last week.
“[Youzhny has] definitely helped me a lot, both on the court and mentally, the last couple weeks. First of all, I think he's done a lot of talking to me and telling me what I should be focussing on in the matches, how to operate with myself. It's been really important for me,” Shapovalov said.
“In terms of my game, I think he understands me really well, how I'm trying to play, finish the points.
“He's been around these guys. He only retired a year ago. He's played these guys a lot of times. It definitely helps to get a feel for how he felt when he played them. I think he scouts really well.”
Shapovalov will try to reach his second US Open fourth round, having made the Round of 16 on debut in 2017 (l. to Carreno Busta), against the 13th-seeded Monfils. The 2016 semi-finalist (l. to Djokovic) ousted Romanian Marius Copil 6-3, 6-2, 6-2, striking 23 winners and saving five of six break points.
Monfils earned his 21st hard-court win of the season, tying Roger Federer for second place on the 2019 hard-court wins leaderboard. It will be the first FedEx ATP Head2Head meeting between Monfils and Shapovalov.
2019 Hard-Court Wins Leaders
|
Player |
W-L |
Titles |
|
Daniil Medvedev |
33-8 |
2 |
|
Roger Federer |
21-3 |
2 |
|
Gael Monfils |
21-4 |
1 |
|
Roberto Bautista Agut |
20-7 |
1 |
|
Stefanos Tsitsipas |
20-11 |
1 |
“I'm a big fan of his. He's been so exciting to watch from when I was super young,” Shapovalov said. “It's definitely going to be a very physical match. I'm expecting a long battle. He gets a lot of balls back. He's pretty tricky. He can really do everything. He can play aggressive, he can stay in the rallies, he's got a big serve.”
In other action, Spain's Pablo Andujar dismissed Lorenzo Sonego of Italy 6-2, 6-4, 6-2 to make the third round of a Grand Slam for the first time in four more than four years (2015 Wimbledon).
The 33-year-old Andujar will meet Kazakhstan's Alexander Bublik, who came back from two sets down against Italy's Thomas Fabbiano to advance 6-7(3), 5-7, 6-4, 6-3, 6-3 and make the Round of 32 at a Slam for the first time. The 22-year-old Bublik delivered 48 aces and 26 double faults in the three-hour, 40-minute contest.
from Tennis - ATP World Tour https://ift.tt/34auW6X
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