Denis Shapovalov just missed out on a third final of the year, falling to Hubert Hurkacz in the Chengdu Open semifinals on Monday.
The 27-year-old from Richmond Hill won a marathon tiebreaker to take the opening set as the two combined for 18 points, with Shapovalov converting on his fourth set point. However, from there, Hurkacz picked things up on return and capitalized on three of five break points over the next two sets en route to the 6-7(8), 6-3, 6-3 victory.
Shapovalov only held three break points during the match, which all came in the third game of the decisive set, but couldn’t put a dent in Hurkacz’s serve.
Both Shapovalov and Hurkacz had very little trouble working through their service games in the first set, each coming up against deuce just once on serve but were able to hold without facing a break point. The Canadian recorded most of his aces in the opener, firing seven of his 14 on the night, while conceding only four points behind his first delivery.
Read also: Fernandez Claims First Title of Year in Singapore
In the inevitable tiebreaker, Shapovalov scored the first mini-break to lead 3-1 and held that advantage until set point at 6-4. However, the Canuck couldn’t close out the set on serve as Hurkacz notched the crucial mini-break. The Pole then won the next two points on his delivery to hold a set point of his own at 7-6, but Shapovalov fought that off to further extend the tiebreaker.
One more set point came and gone for Shapovalov before a second mini-break gave him another chance to seal the opener on serve at 9-8. This time, the 27-year-old converted and had the edge heading into the second.
Read also: Canada to face Czechia in Davis Cup Final 8 in November
Hurkacz quickly put a halt to Shapovalov’s momentum, though. The world No. 41 went on the attack at 1-1, 15-40, and secured the early break, coupling it with a hold at love to go up 3-1. Shapovalov couldn’t find a way to even the set as Hurkacz conceded just one service point the rest of the way. The Pole wrapped up the second on return at 3-5, converting on his second break point of the game to force a decisive set.
Shapovalov got his first look at a break opportunity early in the third, but it was a missed chance gone begging in the end. The Richmond Hillian was unable to break from 1-1, love-40, then lost serve a few games later as he had to play catch up, down 2-4.
Hurkacz’s serve comfortably got him past the finish line, holding from 4-2, 40-love, then capitalizing on his first match point at 5-3, 40-15, to punch his ticket to Tuesday’s final.
Read also: Auger-Aliassime Heroics, Rune Return Among Top Stories from Davis Cup Weekend
Shapovalov’s Asian swing now takes him to Tokyo for the ATP 500 event. The world No. 46 will meet Sho Shimabukuro in his opening match.
Feature Photo: Martin Sidorjak
