Denis Shapovalov has become one of the most exciting players in mens tennis. He proved it once again on his home court in Toronto in Davis Cup play on Friday night. Shapovalov rallied from two sets down and down a break 3-1 in the fifth set to defeat Robin Hasse 3-6, 3-6, 7-5, 6-3, 6-4 in a three hour 35 minute thriller indoors at the Coca Cola Coliseum. The win giving Canada a 2-0 lead over the Netherlands in their Davis Cup World Group play-off tie.
Shapovalov ranked 34 in the World, struggled in the first two sets especially with his return of serve and looked to be going down to the World No. 44 for the second time in just over a month. Haase took out the 19-year old in the third round of the Rogers Cup in straight sets, also in Toronto in August. The top player on the Dutch squad was up two sets in just 67 minutes.
Hasse, was just two games away from the finish line at 5-5 in the third set and had six break points to give himself a chance to serve out the match. He was unable to do so and instead it was Shapovalov who took advantage of a poor service game from Haase and fired an overhead into the open court to give him set number three..
The young Canadian rode the momentum into the fourth and the crowd got into it too. Several times chair umpire Ali Nili was forced to tell the pro Canadian fans to quiet down which isn’t easy during a Davis Cup atmosphere especially on home soil. One fan was almost ejected for making repeated noise during the Dutchman’s serve.
A clearly rattled Hasse facing a break point down 3-2 shanked a forehand long and wide giving the Canadian a 4-2 lead. Two games later one of four aces in the set, gave Shapovalov the set sending the match the distance.
In the fifth, it was Hasse who fought off a break point in the second game and then converted a break of his own after a Shapovalov forehand found the net. The 31-year old native of The Hague who has wins over Alexander Zverev and Kei Nishikori in 2018, looked to be in good position. However, the Canadian won five of the final six games in the match, breaking Hasse twice on route and sealing the deal with one of his trademark one handed backhands.
Team captain Frank Dancevic raced on court to give his young player a giant bear hug congratulating him on one of the biggest wins of his career. It was third five set victory of Shapovalov’s career and the first after being down two sets to none.
Canada swept both of the singles matches on Friday. Milos Raonic won the opening match of the tie defeating Thiemo de Bakker 6-3 6-2 6-2 with a solid serving performance and some strong play at the net. Two aspects of his game that have given the 27-year old success on the ATP Tour in recent years. It was Raonic’s first Davis Cup appearance since 2015. He has now lost just once in 12 Davis Cup matches at home in his career.
On Saturday, 46-year old Daniel Nestor will play the final match of his career as he partners with Vasek Pospisil in Doubles. Nestor has won 48 matches representing his country in Davis Cup dating back to 1992. It would be a fantastic way to end the storied career of the eight-time Grand Slam champ. Final match on home soil, in home town and it could potential clinch the tie with a victory.
@Sportshorn
