Canadian’s journey at French Open ends
Denis Shapovalov’s first career Grand Slam as a seeded player didn’t last long.
The No. 24 seed, from Richmond Hill, Ont., lost 5-7, 7-6 (4), 7-5, 6-4 to world No. 70 Maximilian Marterer of Germany in the second round of the French Open on Thursday.
Shapovalov, 19, was coming off trips to the semifinals and round of 16, respectively, at the past two ATP Masters 1000 events on clay courts. But he couldn’t duplicate those runs in his main draw debut at Roland Garros.
“I’m only 19. Not every week is going to be the semifinals of a big tournament,” Shapovalov said. “It’s going to be ups and downs. I just have to keep enjoying it, keep enjoying the journey.”
In a battle of two players making their French Open main draw debuts, Shapovalov, 19, had more double-faults (11) than aces (six) and far more unforced errors (82) than winners (52).
Shapovalov, 19, became the 10th men’s seed to be eliminated at the tournament. Canada’s Denis Shapovalov returns a shot against Maximilian Marterer during their second round match of the French Open tennis tournament at the Roland Garros stadium in Paris, France, on Thursday.
“I went up a set and a break (and was) feeling good and I let him back into the match a little bit,” Shapovalov said. “After that, I was struggling a little bit with
my serve. I could have much better.”
Shapovalov was the final Canadian player in the singles draw after Peter Polansky of Thornhill,
served Ont., and Vasek Pospisil of Vancouver lost first-round matches earlier this week.
“It’s one of those days,” Shapovalov said. “It’s a little bit disappointing, but like I said credit to (Marterer). He played a really good match and he deserved to win today.”
The loss prevented a possible showdown between Shapovalov and 10-time French Open champion Rafael Nadal, the top seed, in the fourth round.
Pospisil and American Ryan Harrison lost their first-round doubles match later Thursday.
They dropped a 6-4, 6-3 decision to Benoit Paire of France and Federico Delbonis of Argentina.
Rafael Nadal completed another straight-set win to reach the third round of the French Open on Thursday, extending his Roland Garros record to 81-2.
Nadal is once again the big favourite on his favourite surface following a tremendous claycourt season, and the 10-time champion lived up to the status by easily dispatching Guido Pella of Argentina 6-2, 6-1, 6-1 on Court Suzanne Lenglen.
Nadal hasn’t lost a set at the French Open since 2015, when he was beaten in the quarterfinals by Novak Djokovic.
n 2016, he withdrew with an injured left wrist after a pair of easy victories, then claimed every set he played last year en route to the trophy.
Against Pella, the top-ranked Spaniard saved all four break points he faced and hit 37 winners. He will be up against Richard Gasquet of France in the next round.
Gasquet advanced to this stage for the eighth straight year by defeating Malek Jaziri 6-2, 3-6, 6-3, 6-0.
Gasquet has never beaten Nadal in 15 previous meetings.
Among other seeded players advancing were No. 3 Marin Cilic, No. 6 Kevin Anderson, No. 7 Dominic Thiem and No. 15 Lucas Pouille.
In women’s play, top-ranked Simona Halep, third-seeded Garbine Muguruza and two-time champion Maria Sharapova all powered into the third round with straight-set victories.