The context was perfect for Denis Shapovalov. But the American Tommy Paul came to thwart his plans. The revelation of the Stockholm Open won the first title of his career, winning in three sets of 6-4, 2-6 and 6-4 against the Canadian.
Shapovalov was the defending ATP 250 champion. He had just won three straight games for the first time since his semi-final at Wimbledon. 4-3 in 3e round, it had 2 breakage bullets.
But Tommy Paul, a 24-year-old who had taken out Taylor Fritz, Andy Murray and Frances Tiafoe in quick succession in this tournament, had not said his last word. He saved the game in this game, before going to break Shapovalov 0-40 to 4-4. The carrots were done: he won his serve at 5-4 to eliminate the one who won the last edition of this tournament, in 2019.
PHOTO JONAS EKSTROMER, TT VIA AP
Tommy paul
Paul was coming to the final after winning 24 games in 2021, his best year in his career.
And the 24-year-old American started off on a good note. Paul missed almost nothing in the first run. Quite the opposite of Shapovalov: the Canadian committed 14 unforced errors against only 4 for his opponent.
Noises emanating from the stands distracted Shapovalov at 2-2. Keeping his cool, Paul took the opportunity to push his opponent to fault on his forehand and seize the break in service which will prove to be a winner in this first engagement.
The story of the second set, won 6-2 by the Canadian, was the 6 break points that Tommy Paul let slip. Shapovalov had seized a first break in the second game, on his first opportunity of the match. When the door opened for Paul, notably 0-40 in the fifth game, Shapovalov made sure to close it. Brilliantly: he let out a well-felt “c’mon” and thus woke up the crowd. The defending champion concluded the second set with another breakage.
The roles were reversed. Tommy Paul committed 10 unforced errors against 4 for Denis Shapovalov in the second set. The latter succeeded 11 winning shots against 3 for the American.
Despite a devastating first ball from the Canadian, who saved him from trouble on several occasions in the second and third set, he still committed three double faults in this game. Paul won this first meeting between the two men by converting only two break points on 12 occasions.
Denis Shapovalov beat his compatriot and friend Félix Auger-Aliassime in the semifinals, winning in two sets of 6-4 and 7-5.