By Alberto Amalfi | Friday, May 11, 2018
Nineteen-year-old Denis Shapovalov slashed 11 aces subduing Kyle Edmund, 7-5, 6-7 (6), 6-4, to become the youngest Madrid Open semifinalist in history.
Photo credit: Mutua Madrid Open
Denis Shapovalov insists he's still learning to adapt his aggressive game to red clay.
The 19-year-old Canadian is proving to be a proficient student.
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Shapovalov slashed 11 aces subduing Kyle Edmund, 7-5, 6-7 (6), 6-4, to become the youngest Mutua Madrid Open men's semifinalist in history.
It's been a remarkable run for Shapovalov, who arrived in Madrid without a Tour-level clay-court victory to his credit.
It is Shapovalov's second Masters semifinal following his run to the Montreal final four last August when he knocked off Juan Martin del Potro, Rafael Nadal and Adrian Mannarino in succession before bowing to Alexander Zverev.
The world No. 43 will face either the third-ranked Zverev or towering John Isner for a spot in Sunday's final.
A gifted shotmaker adept at bending sharp angles crosscourt or lasering his forehand down the line, Shapovalov beat Edmund for the third time in five meetings, avenging a 6-7 (5), 7-6 (4), 6-4, loss to the 22nd-ranked Briton in Brisbane in January.
Dotting all areas of the service box, Shapovalov streamed through his second love hold for 5-4.
A crunching crosscourt forehand sealed the Canadian's hold for 6-5.
Trying to squeeze a forehand down the line, Edmund missed the mark to face set point at 30-40. The Australian Open semifinalist sailed another forehand as Shapovalov reeled off six of the last eight games in snatching a one-set lead.
Eighty-minutes into the match, Edmund earned a couple of break points.
Despite missing his first serve, Shapovalov saved the first with a diagonal forehand and denied the second with a sweeping backhand down the line. Slashing an ace, Shapovalov held for 5-4.
In the 11th game, Shapovalov swatted an ace down the middle as a fan screamed out from the crowd. Edmund, who stopped play, unsuccessfully argued for a let.
The Brit saved a match point in the 12th game and stood firm holding to force the tie break.
Down 0-2, Shapovalov reeled off three points in a row. Edmund answered with a three point run of his own scorching a running forehand down the line for 5-3.
Moving up quickly to a short forehand, Edmund slapped a tight forehand into the net for 5-all, but drilled an ace down the middle for set point. Shapovalov smacked a serve winner to save it, but jerked a forehand sitter wide handing his opponent a second set point.
When Shapovalov sent a backhand return long, Edmund had the set.
The teenager's skills taking the first strike and playing sharper angles paid dividends as Shapovalov elicited errors breaking in the third game of the decider. Shapovalov backed up the break at love for 3-1.
Still, Edmund wasn't done. He fought back from love-30 down holding for 4-5 and forcing Shapovalov to try to serve it out.
Serving with new balls, Shapovalov closed in style sliding his 11th ace sealing a love hold to wrap up an impressive two hour, 27-minute victory.