By Richard Pagliaro | Tuesday, May 15, 2018
Nineteen-year-old Denis Shapovalov subdued Tomas Berdych, 1-6, 6-3, 7-6 (5), in his Rome opener with a win that will propel him past Milos Raonic as the new Canadian No. 1.
Photo credit: Mutua Madrid Open Facebook
In the Eternal City, Denis Shapovalov scored a victory for the ages.
The 19-year-old Shapovalov battled by Tomas Berdych, 1-6, 6-3, 7-6 (5), in his Rome opener that signals a Canadian changing of the guard.
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The win will propel the 29th-ranked Shapovalov past 22nd-ranked compatriot Milos Raonic as the new Canadian No. 1 when the new ATP rankings are issued on May 21st.
The explosive left-hander joins fellow NextGen stars No. 3 Alexander Zverev (Germany), No. 32 Andrey Rublev (Russia), No. 43 Stefanos Tsitsipas (Greece), No. 154 Casper Ruud (Norway) and No. 180 Hubert Hurkacz (Poland) as the top-ranked player from his respective country.
Shapovalov swept Raonic, 6-4, 6-4, en route to making history in Madrid last week as the youngest men's semifinalist in Mutua Madrid Open tournament history.
Sluggish at the start today, Shapovalov was often pushed back behind the baseline by Berdych's heavy, flat groundstrokes.
The 15th-seeded Czech cruised to a one-set lead as a scatter-shot Shapovalov struggled to hang in longer baseline exchanges.
Rousing himself in the second set, Shapovalov was quicker running around his backhand and began blasting his forehand into both corners with damaging intent to force a decider.
Neither man could gain separation in the decider.
Digging in, Shapovalov navigated a deuce hold to level at 5-all.
Carrying a 5-8 tie break record into the extra session today, Shapovalov was swinging with more freedom and ambition in the breaker.
Berdych missed the mark with a backhand down the line gifting the mini break on the opening point. Two stinging serves and a smash put the Canadian up 4-0.
Curling a crosscourt forehand to freeze the big man, Shapovalov held his shot then fired a forehand to go up 5-2.
Deadlocked at 5-all, Shapovalov slid a backhand pass down the line that handcuffed Berdych for match point.
Shapovalov closed in two hours, four minutes.