By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Wednesday February 15, 2023
The American continued his fine run of form by notching a victory over Denis Shapovalov in Delray Beach.
Photo Source: Getty
Michael Mmoh had a major breakthrough at this year’s Australian Open, when he reached the third round as a lucky loser. His luck – and strong play – has not stopped there.
On Wednesday at the Delray Beach Open the 25-year-old American notched his second Top-30 victory of the young season, edging Canada’s Denis Shapovalov 7-5, 3-6, 6-3, to book a quarterfinal clash with Mackenzie McDonald.
Mmoh, who improves to 5-3 on the young season, says his energy was what helped him navigate an up and down battle with the World No.27.
Down 4-1 and facing break points in the sixth game that would have given Shapovalov a 5-1 lead in the opener, Mmoh held firm. He then won six of the next seven games to take the opening set.
“I think I just started off a little flat,” Mmoh said on court after the win. “I just tried to tell myself to increase the energy. My energy was a little low compared to my last match. I wanted, win or lose, just to have energy. That got me back in the first set.
“Unfortunately I lost the second but my energy was there throughout and I think that's part of the reason I got the W.”
Mmoh saved a trio of break points to hold for 3-2 in the decider and captured four of the final five games of the match to send Shapovalov to his fourth defeat of the season. The Canadian is 4-4 on the year, with one quarterfinal reached.
Mmoh, ranked 87, is into his fourth ATP quarterfinal.