Denis Shapovalov was rock solid on serve Wednesday as the fourth seed won an all-Canadian clash against Vasek Pospisil 7-5, 6-4 in one hour and 45 minutes at the Qatar ExxonMobil Open. One break of serve in each set was enough for Shapovalov, who struck seven aces and didn’t face a break point.
Shapovalov will now challenge American Taylor Fritz, who saved three match points in the deciding set to overcome David Goffin of Belgium.
Fritz beat sixth seed Goffin, the recent Open Sud de France champion, 6-1, 5-7, 7-6(9) in two hours and 35 minutes. The World No. 33, who led Goffin by a set and 3-1, was forced to save three match points at 5-6 in the third set, then at 6/7 and 8/9 in the tie-break.
Thiem Battles Past Karatsev In Doha
Georgia’s Nikoloz Basilashvili, who came into the ATP 250 tournament on the back of five straight losses, is through to his second quarter-final of 2021 (also the Antalya Open) after he defeated Tunisian wild card Malek Jaziri 6-2, 6-2 in 76 minutes. He will next meet three-time former Doha champion Roger Federer.
Federer, who is competing at an ATP Tour event for the first time in 14 months, beat Daniel Evans of Great Britain 7-6(8), 3-6, 7-5 in two hours and 24 minutes.