NEWYORK –
Russian Andrey Rublev rallied to beat Canadian Denis Shapovalov 6-4, 2-6, 6-7 (3), 6-4, 7-6 (7) in the men’s singles third round tough Saturday at the US Open.
Shapovalov, of Richmond Hill, Ont., had 23 aces and 76 winners in a match that lasted four hours and seven minutes. But he also recorded 72 non-mandatory errors, compared with 38 for ninth-seeded Rublev, who finished with nine aces and 38 winners.
And while both players scored four service breaks, Rublev did so with half as many chances as Shapovalov (nine to 17). Shapovalov entered the match as the last remaining Canadian in singles at the Grand Slam event.
Rublev broke Shapovalov for the fourth time to take a 5-4 lead in the fifth set but the Canadian, after picking up three match points, registered a fourth serve break to make it 5- 5. Both then hold the serve to force the breaker to decide.
After being 3-0 down, Shapovalov came back to make it 3-3. Rublev took the lead 5-3 while the Canadian returned once again to make it 5-4.
Rublev took the lead 8-4 and Shapovalov returned the score 8-6. And he pulled to the 9-7 but that’s as close as Shapovalov will get.
Rublev and Shapovalov continued to serve for the opening nine games of the first set before Rublev converted the first break attempt to win 6-4. Shapovalov struggled with his first serve (39%) and was unable to convert either of his break points.
But the Canadian returned the advantage in the second set, scoring a pair of break points on the way to a 5-1 lead. After Rublev held the serve, Shapovalov then did so to win 6-2 to end the game.
The Canadian improved his first serve by 51% entering the third set while scoring seven aces compared to just one for Rublev.
Both returned to serve in the first six games of the third set to force the breaker to serve. But the Canadian player played better, sealing a 7-3 victory with a 2-1 advantage.
But Rublev was forced to eat a fifth and sealed the set by leading the fourth 6-4. And while Shapovalov has shot 18 aces so far – Rublev has 5 – the Canadian has only hit 52% on the first serve (Rublev is 60%) and both players have posted. signed three breaks, although Shapovalov had twice as many chances (14 to seven).
BASIC: Earlier in the day, Leylah Fernandez of Laval, Que., and her partner Daria Saville of Russia, lost their women’s doubles match in the second round 7-6 (5), 3-6 , 6-7 (10) against Bernarda Pera of Croatia and Dalma Galfia of Hungary. … Ottawa’s Gabriela Dabrowski is currently the last Canadian to stand at the US Open in New York. She and her women’s doubles partner Giuliana Olmos will compete in the Round of 16 on Sunday against Ena Shibahara of California and Asia Muhammad.
This report by the Canadian Press was first published on September 3, 2022.
