Félix Auger-Aliassime and Denis Shapovalov misplaced their second spherical singles matches on the Mutua Madrid Open in heartbreaking vogue on Saturday, each dropping third set tiebreaks on the conclusion of hard-fought battles to search out themselves eradicated from the Spanish Masters 1000 event.
Shapovalov, seeded no. 21, put himself ready to win towards world no. 99 Zhang Zhizhen of China, however simply couldn’t get himself throughout the end line as he fell 6-7(4), 6-4, 7-6(1) in a spirited contest that featured dominant serving, huge groundstrokes, and numerous fast factors.
The Canadian overcame a 1-4 deficit within the first set tiebreak by successful six consecutive factors to take an all-important lead. He was rolling alongside in set two till he hit his first bump within the street within the third sport and surrendered the primary break of serve within the encounter. Zhizhen by no means surrendered the benefit and carried the momentum to a second set victory.
Within the closing body, Shapovalov secured his first break of serve of the match within the sixth sport to take a 4-2 lead and appeared effectively on his method to a much-needed win, however Zhizhen had different plans. He broke again straight away within the subsequent sport although Shapovalov led 30-0 and levelled proceedings as soon as extra. They remained on serve till 6-6 which meant that the competition could be determined in a closing set tiebreak. After dropping the opening level, Zhizhen was the steadier and extra opportunistic of the 2 gamers as he gained seven straight factors to earn one of many largest triumphs of his profession.
In the meantime, Auger-Aliassime, who’s enjoying his first event because the Miami Open final month, confronted one of the crucial in-form gamers on the ATP Tour in his first clay courtroom match of the 2023 season on the Mutua Madrid Open on Saturday. Going up towards world no. 40 Dusan Lajovic of Serbia, the Montreal native confirmed some rust and a complete lot of combat earlier than finally falling 6-2, 3-6, 7-6(5) within the second spherical of the Spanish Masters 1000 occasion.
Lajovic, who finds himself on a seven-match win streak, got here out firing within the opening set as Auger-Aliassime looked for his rhythm. The 22-year-old rebounded properly within the second body as he discovered his vary off the bottom, particularly together with his dynamite forehand and a number of intelligent drop photographs. One break of serve was sufficient for him to win his first set in three matches towards the Serb.
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The ultimate set was shut from begin to end with each gamers showcasing their greatest stuff. They remained on serve till the decisive tiebreak when Lajovic jumped out to a fast double break lead at 5-0. Auger-Aliassime clawed his means again by saving three match factors, however Lajovic sealed the deal at 6-5 with one other efficient serve out large, a sample of play that was so essential to his victory.
That is Lajovic’s third Prime 10 win during the last two weeks after he beat Novak Djokovic and Andrey Rublev en path to capturing the title on the ATP 250 event in Banja Luka. The veteran has now overwhelmed Auger-Aliassime thrice in as many matches, twice on onerous courts and as soon as on clay.
Shapovalov and Auger-Aliassime will now shift their focus to doubles in Madrid. The compatriots have teamed up and can tackle the sixth-seeded pair of Harri Heliövaara and Lloyd Glasspool within the second spherical on Sunday.
For her half, Leylah Annie-Fernandez, who misplaced her opening match in singles, superior in girls’s doubles on Saturday afternoon alongside American Taylor Townsend. The duo upset the second-seeded group of Lyudmyla Kichenok and Jelena Ostapenko 6-2, 6-4.
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