National Post (National Edition)
Shapovalov’s confidence on clay blossoms in Paris
Canadian teen reaches second round with victory over Millman
PARIS • Denis Shapovalov is off to the second round of the French Open in his main draw debut at Roland Garros.
The Canadian teen, seeded 24th, defeated John Millman of Australia 7-5, 6-4, 6-2 in a first-round match on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, Vasek Pospisil of Vancouver dropped a 6-3, 6-3, 7-6 (5) decision to Marton Fucsovics of Hungary in another first-round match.
Croatia’s Jozef Kovalik led Peter Polansky of Thornhill, Ont., 7-6 (1), 7-6 (3) before their match was suspended. The delayed match will resume Wednesday.
Shapovalov, from Richmond Hill, Ont., rallied from a 5-2 deficit in the first set, fighting off one set point in the process.
He said he wasn’t concerned with his early struggles.
“My confidence on clay has grown,” Shapovalov said. “My inner belief that I can come back is with me even during the tough moments.”
After a rain delay halted play for an hour with Shapovalov trailing 2-3 in the second set, he lost just three games the rest of the way.
Shapovalov, 19, compiled a 32-9 edge in winners and converted six of 12 break points.
“I’m really happy with the win,” Shapovalov said. “It’s not an easy match against John, he’s such an experienced player.”
A year after losing in the opening round of qualifying in Paris, he is the second-youngest man in the French Open field.
Shapovalov will next face Maximilian Marterer of Germany, ranked 70th in the world. Marterer defeated American Ryan Harrison 6-1, 6-3, 7-5 on Tuesday.
Shapovalov is competing in his fourth consecutive Grand Slam and his first as a seed. His best performance came in last year’s U.S. Open, where he reached the fourth round.
There are no Canadians entered in the women’s singles competition.
However, Ottawa’s Gabriela Dabrowski and Croatia’s Mate Pavic are the top-seeded duo in the mixed doubles draw. They won the mixed doubles title last January at the Australian Open.
Dabrowski is also playing in the women’s doubles competition with Yifan Xu of China. They are seeded fifth.
In men’s doubles, Toronto’s Daniel Nestor will team with Jeremy Chardy of France. Pospisil will team with Harrison and Adil Shamasdin of Pickering, Ont., will play with Sander Arends of the Netherlands.
Meanwhile, for all that has changed in the 16 months since Serena Williams last played in a Grand Slam tournament — she is now married and a mother — so much was familiar about her at the French Open on Tuesday.
The fashion statement, this time was in the form of a black bodysuit with a red belt that she said made her feel like a “warrior princess.” The cries of “Come on!” The big serves that provided 13 aces. The returns that eventually produced three consecutive breaks of serve.
And, yes, the victory. Competing as a mom for the first time at a major, Williams edged 70th-ranked Kristyna Pliskova of the Czech Republic 7-6 (4), 6-4 at Roland Garros.
Already a transcendent sports star and cultural icon, Williams now carries a new title: working mother.
“Well, my priority is Olympia (her daughter). No matter what, that’s my priority. I have given tennis so much, and tennis has actually given me a lot, and I couldn’t be more grateful,” Williams said. “She’s my priority, and I work everything around her.”
The 36-year-old American had not played in one of tennis’s biggest tournaments since winning the Australian Open in January 2017 for her 23rd Grand Slam title, breaking a tie with Steffi Graf for the most in the professional era.
Williams, the world found out later, was pregnant at the time. Her baby was born Sept. 1; Williams married Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian in November.
Williams next faces 17th-seeded Ash Barty of Australia.
It was by far the most significant event of Day 3 at Roland Garros, even though there were so many other Grand Slam champions in action. Rafael Nadal finished off a rain-interrupted victory as he begins his try for a record-extending 11th French Open title. Maria Sharapova, a two-time champ in Paris, was pushed to three sets in a win. Garbine Muguruza, who beat Williams in the 2016 final at Roland Garros, beat another past champion, Svetlana Kuznetsova.