Canadian Denis Shapovalov reached the semi-finals of the Tokyo tennis tournament on Friday by defeating Croatian Borna Coric in two sets of 6-4 and 6-3 in a third round match.
• Read also: The memories of Eugène Lapierre: when Kyrgios and Wawrinka had to be separated
• Read also: Tennis Canada: still big shoes to fill…
The seventh seed of the competition will thus face the third seed and 11e world player, the American Taylor Fritz, in the semi-finals overnight from Friday to Saturday.
“Shapo” needed 1h 17min to win a first duel in three career clashes against the champion of the most recent Masters 1000 from Cincinnati. The Maple Leaf athlete outshot aces 9-2, but committed all five double faults in the game. He broke three times on four occasions, while Coric, seeded ninth and 28e ATP racket, took his serve once.
If he wins again in his next outing, Shapovalov will secure a second consecutive tournament final. He lowered his flag in Seoul ahead of the Japanese Yoshihito Nishioka.