By Canadian Press

Canada’s Denis Shapovalov wins late-night thriller

Mar 27, 2019 | 11:58 AM

MIAMI — Canada’s Denis Shapovalov worked the late-night shift to reach the quarterfinals at the Miami Open.

The 19-year-old left-hander beat 20-year-old Stefanos Tsitsipas of Greece 4-6, 6-3, 7-6 (3) in a fourth-round match that started following a two-hour rain delay and ended shortly after 1:30 Wednesday morning.

The match was extremely close: Each player won 100 points. It offered a peek at the future of men’s tennis, with Shapovalov seeded No. 20 and Tsitsipas No. 8.

“I knew Stefanos was going to be a tough match,” Shapovalov said. “I was ready for a long battle and, sure enough, it went the distance. I’m just happy with the way I controlled myself.”

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Shapovalov beat a top-10 opponent for the second time in his career. He’ll next play No. 28-seeded Frances Tiafoe. The 21-year-old American eliminated Belgium’s David Goffin with a 7-5, 7-6 (6) win on Tuesday night.

“We’re both shotmakers,” Shapovalov said. “I’m just ready for another fun, tough match.”

With the win, Shapovalov ensured two Canadian teens would play in the men’s quarterfinals. Felix Auger-Aliassime, an 18-year-old from Montreal, was slated to face No. 11 seed Borna Coric of Crotia in the final match on the stadium court on Wednesday night. 

It marks the first time two teens have been in any ATP Tour Masters 1000 event since 2007. It’s the first time since 2013 that two Canadians have reached the quarterfinals or better in a Masters 1000 event — Milos Raonic and Vasek Pospisil did it at the Rogers Cup that year.

Shapovalov and India’s Rohan Bopanna were scheduled to play a men’s doubles quarterfinal Wednesday against American twins Bob and Mike Bryan, the No. 3 seeds.

The fifth-seeded women’s doubles team of Gabriela Dabrowski and Yifan Xu of China were up against Victoria Elise Mertens of Belgium and Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus in a quarterfinal.

— with files from The Associated Press.

The Canadian Press