‘Shapo’ makes Canadian Aus Open history

Denis Shapovalov – one of two Canadian men inside the top 15, along with Felix Auger-Aliassime – has ousted Alex Zverev in straight sets in a result with major Australian Open title ramifications.

Shapovalov’s 6-3 7-6 (7-5) 6-3 defeat of the third-seeded German, in their first grand slam clash, was his third win in their past four meetings.

Auger-Aliassime will attempt to emulate his countryman’s effort when he locks horns with 2014 US Open champion Marin Cilic on Monday.

Only Milos Raonic and Michael Belkin had ever reached the last eight in Melbourne among Canadian men in the Open Era before 14th-seeded Shapovalov matched them on Sunday.

With Novak Djokovic not in the tournament, this was supposed to be a major opportunity for Zverev to break his grand slam duck after a six-title season in 2021 that included the ATP Finals.

Russian Daniil Medvedev now looms as the clear player to beat after his US Open breakthrough last September, even with former world No.1 Rafael Nadal still in the draw.

Nadal is Shapovalov’s quarter-final opponent.

“It’s always an honour to go up against a guy like Rafa,” Shapovalov said.

“We played not too long ago in an exhibition (in Abu Dhabi in December) – completely different conditions, completely different match, but it’s always fun.

“It’s always going to be a battle against him and it’s going to be a tough one and I’m definitely going to enjoy it.”

Shapovalov, a Wimbledon semi-finalist last year, has not had a straightforward time of it since arriving in Australia.

He tested positive for Covid-19 on arrival before recovering to play in the ATP Cup, where he lost one match and had a series of battles.

Those challenges have continued at the Australian Open, where he survived a tense four-setter against Laslo Djere first-up, then rallied from two-sets-to-one down to edge past Soonwoo Kwon.

Even Shapovalov’s third-round win over American Reilly Opelka came after claiming a first-set tie-breaker and losing the second set.

But he more comfortably took out the first set over Zverev then jumped out to a 2-0 second-set lead to appear in complete control.

Zverev finally showed some resistance to break back in the fourth game then again for 5-3, giving him the chance to tie things up, only to stumble once more.

Shapovalov forced a tie-break – his seventh of the week – and was soon two sets up before breaking the German once more early in the third setto as good as clinch victory.

Originally published as Australian Open 2022: Denis Shapovalov beats Alex Zverev to become third Canadian man in Open Era to reach quarter-finals