2023-07-07 20:23:12
LONDON | Was it the sun, beaming after the rainy days that had ruined the start of the fortnight? Or the smell of flowers that perfumed the All England Club? Still, the Canadian players seemed to want to spend some time on the court on Friday at Wimbledon.
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After Bianca Andreescu, Denis Shapovalov also had a little scare, but the Ontarian qualified for the fourth round by winning against British guest Liam Broady by a score of 4-6, 6- 2, 7-5 and 7-5, in over three hours.
But even if it could have been easier against the 142nd in the world, even if “Shapo” could have played better in the first and third sets (he trailed 5-2 in this one), the 26th seed was all smiles after the game.
AFP photo
“An Accomplishment”
Because a qualification for the second week of a Grand Slam remains in his eyes an “accomplishment” of which he is very proud, especially after a start to the year which he himself qualifies as “difficult” (he showed a record of 10-12 before showing up in London).
“Every game, every win and every battle like this gives me confidence,” said Shapovalov, who hadn’t reached this stage of a major since the Australian Open last year (when he was beaten in quarters by Rafael Nadal).
nervous but happy
On court 2, one of the biggest in London, “Shapo” admitted to feeling nervous at the start of the match.
The Canadian could also have played better at times, as he conceded.
But the important thing for him, in this enclosure where he had been part of the four aces two years ago, was to have managed to conclude the match when he felt that he had his 29-year-old rival in the cables. .
AFP
A welcome break
Shapovalov has played every day since Tuesday, due to rain which marred the first days of the fortnight.
If the recipe has smiled on him so far – “I asked the organizers if I could still play on Saturday”, he joked – he does not hide that a little rest will not do him any harm. , especially with his sore knee.
“Shapo” will now face Russian Roman Safiullin, 92nd in the world, on Sunday or Monday.
A good draw on paper, but a player “whom everyone is wary of in the locker room”, underlined the left-hander.
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