Denis Shapovalov rallied from one break down to beat Japanese lucky loser Yuichi Sugita 7-5 6-2 in 1 hour and 17 minutes in the semifinal of the Intrum Stockholm Open reaching the first semifinal of his career. Shapovalov scored his first win in eight semifinals.
Krajnovic was too tired after his marathon quarter final clash against Janko Tipsarevic, where he sealed a dramatic win on his 10th match point.
In the first set Krajnovic opened up a 4-2 lead with an early break, but Shapovalov bounced back by winning 11 of the last 14 games.
Shapovalov has become the third player born in 1999 to reach an ATP Final after Alex De Minaur and Miomir Kecmanovic.
Shapovalov saved two break points in the fourth game before dropping serve two games later. The young Canadian player broke back in the next game and held his service game in the eighth game to draw level to 4-4. Shapovalov earned another break in the 11th game to take a 6-5 lead, when Sugita netted a backhand. Shapovalov hit four winners in the 12th game to seal the opening set 7-5.
Shapovalov hit a backhand crosscourt winner to take an early break lead in the first game of the second set and held serve with his serve. He broke serve in the fifth game to open up a 4-1 lead and hit three winners in the eighth game to close out the match.
“It feels amazing. Kind of tough beginning. I think he played really well at the beginning. I was a little bit nervous, so I am really happy to turn the match around. I have played a lot of semifinals, so it’s really exciting to be into my first final. I have had some bad luck, some tough matches in the semifinals. On the other side making the semifinals is a good sign, so I knew sooner or later the win was going to come, I have stayed pretty patient. I am just happy to be through. I would love to enjoy and win my first title, but if not, it’s a big step to make my first final this week, so I am happy with where I stand”,said Shapovalov.
Krajnovic came back from one set down to beat number 5 seed Pablo Carreno Busta 4-6 6-3 6-3. Carreno Busta earned the first break in the fourth game to open up a 4-1 lead. Krajnovic broke back in the seventh game to draw level to 4-4. Carreno Busta converted his second break point in the 10th game to seal the opening set 6-4.
Krajnovic broke twice to open up a 4-0 lead. Carreno Busta pulled one break back in the eighth game to claw his was back to 3-5, but Krajnovic sealed the second set 6-3 with a break in the ninth game to force the match to the third set.
Krajnovic saved two break points in the first and third games of the third set Krajnovic reeled off 12 of the last 15 point from 3-3. The Serbian player broke serve in the eighth game and held serve at 15 to seal the second set 6-3.