New York Aug 31 (IANS) Canadian budding tennis superstar Denis Shapovalov put on a show under the lights in the US Open second round showing loads of power athleticism and all-court skill in a 6-4 6-4 7-6 (7-3) victory over eighth-seeded Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga.
In a late Wednesday match in Arthur Ashe Stadium that concluded just before midnight the 18-year-old Canadian used his explosive quickness to pounce on short balls attacked Tsonga s second serve at times and boasted more overall firepower than his 32-year-old opponent reports Efe.
Just as he did in a win over Spanish great Rafael Nadal earlier in the North American summer hard-court season Shapovalov also showcased his uncanny ability to get out of 0-30 and 15-30 jams on his service games whether by coming up with a timely service winners or blasting unreturnable down-the-line forehands and blistering one-handed backhand passing shots.
The teenager suffered just one real hiccup during the two-hour 12 minute contest when he failed to serve out the match at 5-4 in the third set.
But he quickly regrouped and clinched the victory with a comfortable win in the third-set tiebreaker.
Afterward the fast-rising 69th-ranked Shapovalov was humble about his latest victory over a top player.
"I don t think that win was any bit routine. I played unbelievable today very high level " Shapovalov who will next take on big-hitting Kyle Edmund of the United Kingdom said in his post-match press conference."
"Yeah I don t know why but I just managed to stay loose and go for my shots the whole match except a little bit at ... 5-4 serving for the third set."
While Shapovalov has seized the moment thus far in his first US Open another young star German Alexander Zverev the No. 4 seed was stunned by fellow 20-year-old Borna Coric of Croatia 3-6 7-5 7-6 (7-1) 7-6 (7-4) on Wednesday afternoon.
Afterward Zverev rued his missed opportunity in the bottom half of the draw which has been left wide open after Scottish world No. 2 Andy Murray pulled out of the tournament with an injury.
"It s upsetting because the draw is pretty open in the bottom part. I felt like I should have been the favored there. You know I just played a very very bad match so it s unfortunate. But that s how it is " Zverev said.
--IANS
sam/dg
