Djokovic tops Shapovalov in Adelaide; Fernandez out in Auckland QFs

However within the Adelaide quarter-finals, the Canadian was unable to reap the benefits of his alternatives and a few streaky serving opening the door for Djokovic, who superior with a 6-3, 6-4 victory.

Serving properly is all the time wanted with a view to defeat the Serbian and Shapovalov was not adequate on today, placing simply 53 per cent of his first serves in play, solely profitable 41 per cent of his second serve factors and double faulting seven instances. He additionally transformed simply one among his 4 break level possibilities.

Early on, it was the Canadian making use of strain and making an attempt to provide himself an early edge, holding a pair of break factors on Djokovic’s serve within the opening recreation that required 5 deuces for the Serbian to carry. Shapovalov had one other break alternative at 2-2 however was once more unable to transform.

As he usually does, Djokovic turned issues round after surviving a scare on serve. He pushed Shapovalov to deuce within the following recreation after which transformed his first break level of the match within the eighth recreation when the Canadian despatched a forehand lengthy.

Djokovic took the early lead within the second set as he broke and moved forward 3-1, however Shapovalov was capable of get well, lastly breaking by means of to stage at 3-3.

Nevertheless, there was no stopping Djokovic. The Serbian continued to assault his returns, holding a pair of break factors within the following recreation earlier than changing his fourth within the ninth recreation to set himself as much as serve out the win.

With the defeat. Shapovalov falls to 0-8 in his profession in opposition to Djokovic.

Fernandez stumped in Auckland

Throughout the Tasman sea, Leylah Annie Fernandez noticed her red-hot begin to the season come to a screeching halt as she was crushed in straight units by Ysaline Bonaventure within the quarter-finals of Auckland.

It was a second win over a Canadian in a row for Bonaventure, who had crushed Rebecca Marino within the second spherical.

Fernandez got here into the match having misplaced simply three video games in her first two matches, however like Shapovalov, failure to reap the benefits of her alternatives on return and struggles on second serve proved pricey as she fell to the Belgian 6-4, 6-2.

Regardless of placing a excessive proportion of first serves in play, Fernandez’s second serve was nonetheless a difficulty as she gained simply 39 per cent of these factors. She confronted eight break factors within the match and solely managed to avoid wasting 4. On return, she solely transformed one among her six alternatives.

Halfway by means of the opening set, three consecutive breaks of serve ended with the Belgian forward. Fernandez had an opportunity to interrupt again once more as Bonaventure served for the opening set however was unable to transform.

The Belgian then broke once more to begin the second set. Fernandez had a number of possibilities to reclaim the break however was unable to transform any of her three break factors in Bonaventure’s subsequent two service video games. The Canadian additionally discovered herself working onerous to carry her personal function she confronted break factors in each service recreation of the second set.

After saving 4 break factors to remain within the set within the third and fifth video games, Fernandez lastly cracked within the seventh recreation as Bonaventure took the decisive double break.

Bonaventure is a participant to regulate for Canadians, as she may very well be a member of Belgium’s Billie Jean King Cup staff in April after they tackle Canada within the qualifying spherical.

Shapovalov is anticipated to play in Auckland subsequent week, whereas Fernandez will not be at the moment entered in an occasion, that means she is going to subsequent take to the court docket on the Australian Open.