The Canadian needed three sets and over two hours to overcome losing the first set en route to a three set win over his Italian opponent.
Denis Shapovalov booked his spot in the quarterfinals of the Gonet Geneva Open after beating the Italian Marco Cecchinato 6-7, 7-5, 6-1 in two hours and 22 minutes.
The first four games of the match went on serve and at 2-2 it was the world number 15 who would earn the first three breakpoints of the set and break using his powerful forehand to take an early lead.
The Brescia, Italy resident pushed back in the following game and managed to earn two breakpoints of his very own but the Toronto native did a good job saving both and holding serve.
At 5-4 Shapovalov found himself serving for the first set and that’s when the world number 105 stormed back saving it and that’s when the Canadian serve imploded and he served back to back double faults to give the break right back.
The very next game the world number 15 tried to get the break back but the Italian was up to the task of saving it and saved two in the game and forced a tiebreaker to decide the first set.
The first six points of the break were tightly contested and at 3-3 that’s when the Italian ran away with the breaker winning three points in a row and to everyone surprise managed to steal the set.
The Canadian was determined to bounce back in the second set and after holding the opening service game of the set he earned a breakpoint but again failed to convert.
The world number 105 earned his first two breakpoints of the set at 2-2 but the Toronto native would save both with his big serve and it stayed on serve until 6-5 when the Canadian found himself with two set points and would convert to send it to a deciding third set.
The world number 15 started the third set carrying the momentum from winning the second set and once again after holding the opening service game had two chances to break and would convert on his second opportunity to take an early 2-0 lead.
It stayed on serve until 4-1 when the Canadian once again earned three breakpoints and would break before serving out the match. He will next face Laslo Djere of Serbia who managed to upset another Italian Fabio Fognini.
