Denis Shapovalov is now 6-1 at the Stockholm Open after securing a place in the last eight in 2021.
2He had to fight extra hard early in the match, including breaking the serve of Italian tennis player, Andrea Vavassori three times before carving out a 7-6, 6-1 victory.
“I thought he played really well in the first set. It’s never easy to start a tournament, but it’s amazing to be back here,” said HeShapovalov remembering his journey to winning the first ATP tournament title of his career at the 2019 Stockholm Open.
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“I remember playing a good game. It was an amazing week and to be honest, Stockholm is a very special place for me, where I won my first title. I always feel good to be back here.”
The world number 18 was caught in a tight first set against Vavassori, who made his ATP debut by playing at the Stockholm Open. Tension increased after the Italian tennis player rose and equalized 5-5. However, the Canadian also raised the level in the tiebreak before winning the set.
The third seed maintained momentum in the second set and broke Vavassori twice more to seal victory in a match between two lefties.
Standing between Denis Shapovalov and a place in the semi-finals of the Stockholm Open is Frenchman Arthur Rinderknech, who clinched a convincing 6-4, 6-1 win over Slovakian lucky loser Jozef Kovalik. This match will be the first meeting between the two players.
In other action, the eighth seed, Frances Tiafoe also strolled into the quarter-finals of the ATP level 250 tournament after beating the Spaniard, Pedro Martinez, 6-4, 6-4.
American Tiafoe will meet fourth seed Dan Evans after the British crippled Martinez’s compatriot Alejandro Davidovich Fokina 7-6, 6-2.
Head to head both players drew 2-2 and both players claimed a win each when they met on indoor hard courts. Tiafoe won their meeting in Basel in 2019 and Evans avenged that loss in Antwerp last season.
