Shapovalov wins All-Canadian match
MADRID — Milos Raonic was a huge influence on Denis Shapovalov during the Canadian teenager’s formative years in the sport.
On Thursday, the youngster showed his tennis idol that he’s ready to join him among the sport’s elite.
Shapovalov defeated Raonic 6-4, 6-4 in thirdround play at the Madrid Open, completing their first-ever ATP World Tour meeting in one hour 22 minutes.
“He’s such a legend in our country,” Shapovalov said. “I mean he’s been dominating the sport in our country and in the world. I’ve always looked up to him.
“To beat a guy like that, it’s a huge confidence booster for me. Hopefully I can take that going forward.”
Raonic, from Thornhill, Ont., is currently ranked 24th in the world, 19 positions higher than Shapovalov.
Raonic is a former world No. 3 who is trying to return to form after battling injuries in recent seasons. The 27-year-old has eight career titles on his resume and reached the Wimbledon final in 2016.
Shapovalov, from Richmond Hill, Ont., is coming off a breakthrough season that saw him reach the semifinals at the Rogers Cup – knocking off top-seeded Rafael Nadal along the way – and rocket up the rankings.
He will next face world No. 22 Kyle Edmund of Britain, a 6-3, 6-3 winner over 10th-ranked David Goffin of Belgium. Edmund defeated former No. 1 Novak Djokovic in straight sets a day earlier.
Shapovalov picked up a service break on Raonic in the first set and did it again in the second.
“The match felt like everything kind of went great, went my way,” he said. “I was guessing a lot the right way on the serves. When I got my racket on them, usually they’re falling in. There’s nothing to criticize about my performance today.”
The 19-year-old Canadian has split his four career meetings with Edmund. This will be their first head-to-head matchup on clay.
In other matches, Rafael Nadal broke John McEnroe’s record of 49 straight sets won on the same surface by beating Diego Schwartzman 6-3, 6-4.
Nadal extended his winning streak to 50 consecutive sets on clay, eclipsing the mark McEnroe established on carpet in 1984.
“When my career is over, these are things that are going to be there for always. It’s difficult to be able to win 50 sets in a row,” Nadal said. “Well, it’s done. It’s over. Let’s not talk about that any more and let’s continue on what we have ahead which is what I am concerned about.”
The world No. 1’s focus is trained on his next match against Dominic Thiem, a rematch of last year’s final. Thiem, who outlasted Borna Coric 2-6, 7-6 (5), 6-4, is the last player to beat Nadal on clay at Rome last year.
In women’s action, top-ranked Simona Halep lost to Karolina Pliskova 6-4, 6-3 in women’s quarterfinal play. Halep was the two-time defending champion.