Denis Shapovalov of Vaughan, Ontario has won his first round match at the 2024 Shanghai Masters in China on Wednesday. Shapovalov, who is currently 101st in the world, upset Lorenzo Sonego of Italy, who is 50th in the world, 7-6, 7-6. Shapovalov won the first set tie break 7-5, and the second set tiebreak 10-8.
In a match that lasted two hours and nine minutes, Shapovalov had a chance to close out the match earlier in the second set tie break, but double faulted while leading 7-6. However, Shapovalov regrouped and won three of the next four points. He got the minibreak to take a 9-8 lead when he delivered an impressive shot down the line which Sonego could not return, and then won the match with an impressive backhand winner when coming to the net.
This was the second time in Shapovalov’s career he has beaten Sonego. Shapovalov also beat Sonego 7-6, 3-6, 6-3 in the first round of the 2022 Italian Open.
Next up for Shapovalov is the 16th seed Ben Shelton of the United States. Shelton beat Shapovalov earlier this year in Washington and Wimbledon.
Shapovalov is one of two Canadians in the second round of Shanghai. The other is the 18th seed Felix Auger-Aliassime of Montreal, Quebec, who is facing Alexandre Muller of France. This will be their first head to head meeting.
