(Photo by Mike Lawrence/ATP Tour)
At the outcome of their sixth career clash, Denis Shapovalov collected his fourth win over Stefanos Tsitsipas.
The match, which got started on Friday, was interrupted by rain after 24 minutes of play, but the Canadian had already secured a break.
When the action resumed on Saturday, Shapovalov kept the momentum going to easily seal the first set.
Things got dicier in the second, as Tsitsipas spent 18 minutes fighting off eight break points in his second service game.
Even so, undiscouraged by the missed opportunities, Denis brought the scorecard back to 4-4. On serve for the match, he held at zero to close out his most brilliant win of the season.
Fernandez to collide with pegula in the third round of the miami open
On Saturday afternoon, Leylah Annie Fernandez (31) won her opening match at the Miami Open, defeating qualifier Emiliana Arango of Colombia in straight sets (6-4, 6-2). The Laval native was due to début in Florida on Friday, but the rain upset her plans.
Fernandez dictated the rhythm from the get-go, coming to the net often to generate some spectacular volleys. It took her only 25 minutes to build a 5-0 lead against the No.123.
But Arango never gave up and battled to win four straight games before Leylah closed out the set.
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Back on track
Even with the crowd firmly behind Arango, Fernandez never lost her nerve in the second set, keeping her opponent under pressure and on her toes with her lefty forehands.
Although Arango managed to wrestle a break from her, Leylah stayed the course and broke twice to come out on top.
In the 77-minute match, Fernandez capitalized on all six of the break chances she was handed and won 70% of her first serves. The win is her first at a WTA 1000 event since February 19 in Dubai.
Fernandez (31) vs. Pegula (4)
In the next round, Leylah Fernandez faces the reigning National Bank Open champion and World No.5 Jessica Pegula (4).
Zverev send Auger-Aliassime home
On Saturday night, Alexander Zverev was unstoppable in his practically perfect
two-set win (6-2, 6-4) over Félix Auger-Aliassime.
Auger-Aliassime fought off three break points from the outset, but Zverev got
hold of his first break two games later and then ran away with the set.
In the opening set, Auger-Aliassime racked up 10 unforced errors versus only
2 for his opponent. Though he attempted a few volleys and drop shots, Félix
never managed to find Zverev’s weak points.
Zverev didn’t let up in the second set, locking in a break and a comfortable lead
without ever proffering a break point.
Despite his seven aces and 71% of first serve points won, the Canadian was no
match for his rival.
In the next round, Zverev will take on either Daniel Evans or Christopher
Eubanks.
