Second match between Alexander Zverev and Denis Shapovalov – and again the two youngsters will play in the semi-finals of an ATP Masters 1000 tournament. This time in Madrid.
The story of the duels between Kyle Edmund and Denis Shapovalov has experienced another eventful chapter in the Caja Magical of Madrid on Friday evening: The Canadian made things unnecessarily exciting, missed a match point in the second set and finally won 7-5, 6-7 (6) and 6-4 Shapovalov entered the record list of the ATP Masters 1000 tournament in the Spanish capital – from now on he may operate as the youngest semi-finalist in tournament history.
The story between Alexander Zverev and Denis Shapovalov is much shorter, but it is certainly relevant: The only official meeting (although the organisers of the Laver Cup probably see it somewhat differently) took place last summer in Montreal, in the semifinal round. Zverev prevailed in two sets and must also be the favourite in Madrid (not before 9 p.m. live on SKY and in our live ticker).
After Rafael Nadal’s defeat against Dominic Thiem, Alexander Zverev is the man with the longest series of en suite sets on clay, now 14. Yannick Hanfmann was the last player in Munich to take a run off the German number one, John Isner was not even close to a partial victory on Friday evening despite the 6:4 and 7:5 seemingly close at the end. Too sovereign Zverev acted as serve.
Zverev enters his fourth semi-final at 1000 level in Madrid, losing his last one to Kei Nishikori in Monte Carlo. Shapovalov is the greatest possible alternative to Nishikori, playfully and emotionally. Whether the emotions will drive the young Canadian to victory over Alexander Zverev is doubtful, however: The best German tennis player has presented himself too cold, almost clinically well in Madrid to date.
Here is the men’s single tableau in Madrid