NEW YORK (Reuters) – Denis Shapovalov overcame a terrible first set tie-break to beat David Goffin 6-7(0) 6-3 6-4 6-3 on Sunday and become the first Canadian man to advance to the U.S. Open quarter-finals in the Open era.
Shapovalov will next face Spain’s Pablo Carreno Busta in the quarter-finals after the 20th seed was awarded his fourth round match against Novak Djokovic by default when the world number one hit a line judge with a ball.
It will be Shapovalov’s first Grand Slam quarter-final and could lead the way for a Canadian charge into the last eight with compatriots Vasek Pospisil and Felix Auger-Aliassime playing their fourth round clashes on Monday.
After losing the first set, Shapovalov began to find his range with his serve, used his powerful forehand to put pressure on the Belgian’s ground strokes and capitalised on his break-point opportunities to advance.
(Reporting by Greg Stutchbury in Wellington; Editing by Peter Rutherford)
