Canadian Denis Shapovalov advanced to the second round of the Paris Masters 1000 on Tuesday with a 6-7(2), 6-3, 6-4 three-set victory over Argentina’s Francisco Cerúndolo.
In that first career meeting with the 30-year-old Argentine, Shapovalov had nine aces, three double faults and won 78 percent of the points after placing his first ball in play.
The 23-year-old Canadian, 16e world player since his participation in the final of the Vienna tournament on Sunday, has faced only two break points, both in the second game of the match. He was unable to protect the second, wasting the break he himself had made in the previous game.
Thereafter, Shapovalov never came close to flinching on his serve, except in the tiebreaker of the opening set, when he conceded mini-breaks on the second and seventh points.
Shapovalov scored the only break of the second set in game eight, and added another at a crucial moment in the game in game nine of the deciding set.
In the second round on Wednesday, Shapovalov will battle Spaniard Pablo Carreño Busta, ranked 14ewho defeated his compatriot Albert Ramos Viñolas 6-3, 6-3.
If he wins, Shapovalov could face second-seeded Rafael Nadal of Spain in the third round.
On Wednesday, it will be the turn of Montrealer Félix Auger-Aliassime to play his first match at the tournament, when he will face Sweden’s Mikael Ymer, in a second round duel.
Eighth player in the world, Auger-Aliassime will enter the tournament in search of a fourth title in as many weeks, after his triumphs in Florence, Antwerp and Basel.
Successful return
Earlier today, defending champion Novak Djokovic began his quest for a 39e title of the Masters 1000 series by beating American Maxime Cressy 7-6(1), 6-4 in a second-round match.
Cressy saved three break points in the eighth game before committing two double faults in the first set tiebreaker. The Serb, who faced Cressy for the first time in his career, then won it by slamming an ace.
Cressy also double-faulted at 4-4 in the second set to give his opponent two break points, and Djokovic took advantage with a forehand winner in return. The “Djoker” then sealed the outcome of the match with a winning backhand volley.
After triumphs in Israel and Kazakhstan, Djokovic extended his winning streak to 10 following his defeat at the Laver Cup in September. In the next round, he will face Karen Khachanov, who defeated Marc-Andrea Hüsler 6-3, 4-6, 6-4.
Meanwhile, Andrey Rublev and Hubert Hurkacz improved their chances of making the ATP Finals.
Rublev easily defeated John Isner 6-2, 6-3 in the second round, while Hurkacz got the better of home favorite Adrian Mannarino 7-6(5), 6-4 in the first round.
In other first round matches Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov beat Botic van de Zandschulp 7-6 (5), 7-6 (5), Frenchman Corentin Moutet stunned Borna Ćorić 3-6, 6-3, 6-4, Daniel Evans overthrew Brandon Nakashima 6-3, 3-6, 6-4, Jack Draper beat Arthur Rinderknech 6-3, 6-4, Fabio Fognini ousted Arthur Fils 7-6 (5), 6 -7 (4), 6-2, and Tommy Paul got rid of Roberto Bautista Agut 6-4, 6-4.