(Melbourne) Canadian Denis Shapovalov was eliminated in the first round of the Australian Open, as the 24-year-old Canadian was shown the exit door in three sets of 6-3, 7-5, 7- 5, Monday.
For his part, another Canadian, Milos Raonic, was forced to retire during his first match.
It was a young player from qualifying, Jakub Mensik, who won in two hours 20 minutes over Shapovalov who was returning from a knee injury. He had only played one match since July 9.
Mensik finished the match with 12 aces, including three in a row in the last game of the third set. He committed four double faults and 22 unforced errors.
Mensik hit 63% of his first serves, winning 17 service games and three in return.
Shapovalov hit 12 aces, seven double faults and 50 unforced errors. The left-hander placed 77% of his first balls in play. However, he did not break on any occasion.
PHOTO DAVID GRAY, AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
Milos Raonic
As for Milos Raonic, he retired in the third round of his clash against a local favorite, Alex de Minaur, tenth seed in the tournament.
The Ontarian won the first set, 7-6 (8), before losing the second 6-3. He was trailing 2-0 when he indicated after an hour and 55 minutes of play that he had to leave the match due to an injury.
Quebecer Félix Auger-Aliassime, 27e seeded, began his first round match against Dominic Thiem at the end of the night.