ATP Dallas: Denis Shapovalov edges Taylor Fritz, earns uncommon top-10 win

Denis Shapovalov will compete within the quarter-final of the ATP 500 occasion in Dallas. The Canadian confronted world no. 4 Taylor Fritz within the second spherical and prevailed 2-6, 6-3, 7-6 in two hours and three minutes.

Thus, Denis notched his second top-10 win from the final 12 encounters towards elite group rivals. The earlier got here in October 2022 in Vienna towards, you guessed, Taylor Fritz. The house participant made a dependable begin.

Nevertheless, Shapovalov responded within the second set and toppled world no. 4 within the tie break of the deciding set for a notable triumph.

Denis Shapovalov est vraiment le bourrin qu’il croit être. 😂pic.twitter.com/YOAxpcoplO

— Tennis Legend (@TennisLegende) February 7, 2025

Taylor didn’t play badly, ending the duel with 25 winners and 24 unforced errors. He had the higher hand from the baseline after welcoming over 40 unforced errors from his opponent. Denis erased the deficit after firing 40 service winners.

He transformed one in every of two break factors and supplied his opponent 9 break factors, seven within the opener. The lower-ranked participant denied seven, serving nicely in units two and three and prevailing after a powerful efficiency within the tie break.

Denis Shapovalov & Taylor Fritz, Dallas 2025© Stream screenshot

Fritz was off to a flying begin. The US Open finalist welcomed a forehand error from a left-hander within the first recreation of the duel and grabbed an early break. Denis hit a double fault within the third recreation, falling 3-0 behind after solely ten minutes!

The American offered snug holds in video games 4 and 6, constructing a 5-1 benefit. The Canadian served to remain within the set in recreation seven and confronted three set factors. He denied and held to cut back the deficit and acquire some confidence.

Denis Shapovalov, Dallas 2025© Stream screenshot

Taylor served for the opener at 5-2 and confronted a break level. He denied them and seized a set level with a smash winner, opening a 6-2 benefit after 31 minutes. Shapovalov made a push on the return within the second recreation of the second set.

He cracked a forehand down the road winner for a break and a 2-0 lead. The Canadian denied two break factors in recreation three, remaining in entrance and gaining confidence. A left-hander fired a service winner within the seventh recreation and served for the set at 5-3.

Denis offered one other high quality maintain, inflicting Taylor’s mistake and leveling the general rating after an hour and 9 minutes. Each gamers served nicely within the last set. Fritz led 30-0 on the return in recreation ten earlier than Shapovalov claimed 4 straight factors and made an enormous maintain.

The set went right into a tie break, and Denis opened it with a drop shot winner. He claimed two factors on serve, portray a forehand crosscourt winner for a 3-0 benefit. The American discovered himself 4-0 behind and missed a backhand at 1-5 to face 5 match factors.

World no. 4 missed a routine forehand on the second, permitting his rival to seal the deal and earn a much-needed notable victory.