TennisNH

Shapovalov Wins All-Canadian Clash; Fritz Saves 3 M.P. In Doha

10-Mar-2021 16:57:00 | ATP World Tour

Denis Shapovalov was rock solid on serve Wednesday as the fourth seed won an all-Canadian clash against Vasek Pospisil 7-5, 6-4 in one hour and 45 minutes at the Qatar ExxonMobil Open. One break of serve in each set was enough for Shapovalov, who struck seven aces and didn’t face a break point.

Shapovalov will now challenge American Taylor Fritz, who saved three match points in the deciding set to overcome David Goffin of Belgium.

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Fritz beat sixth seed Goffin, the recent Open Sud de France champion, 6-1, 5-7, 7-6(9) in two hours and 35 minutes. The World No. 33, who led Goffin by a set and 3-1, was forced to save three match points at 5-6 in the third set, then at 6/7 and 8/9 in the tie-break.

Georgia’s Nikoloz Basilashvili, who came into the ATP 250 tournament on the back of five straight losses, is through to his second quarter-final of 2021 (also the Antalya Open) after he defeated Tunisian wild card Malek Jaziri 6-2, 6-2 in 76 minutes. He will next meet three-time former Doha champion Roger Federer.

Federer, who is competing at an ATP Tour event for the first time in 14 months, beat Daniel Evans of Great Britain 7-6(8), 3-6, 7-5 in two hours and 24 minutes.