NEW YORK –
Denis Shapovalov’s first set at Tuesday’s US Open was over in a New York minute.
But it wasn’t the 19th-seeded Canadian who needed just 26 minutes to post a quick 6-2 win in men’s singles.
The unheralded Marc-Andrea Huesler of Switzerland jumped over the favorite athlete from Richmond Hill, Ontario, who was attempting to improve Canada’s record in the first round at Flushing Meadows to 5-0 after claiming singles victories from Leylah Annie Fernandez, Rebecca on Monday Marino, Bianca Andreescu and Felix Auger-Aliassime.
But Shapovalov, who made it to the quarterfinals of the US Open in 2020, was able to adapt, winning the next two sets 6-4, 6-4 but was rebounded in the fourth by 26-year-old Huesler 6-3 by one Prepare win-or-go home fifth set.
Shapovalov, 23, appeared to shift into “serious” gear in the fifth and deciding set. Changing pace and his sense of urgency saw Shapovalov win 6-1 to advance to the next round.
“Super tough match and very happy to win. It was a fight, he (Huesler) played so well from behind,” Shapovalov said after the win. “You’ll probably party in the ice bath afterwards.”
The game, which was postponed several times throughout the day, lasted nearly three hours.
BASELINES: In Wednesday’s women’s singles, Fernandez takes on Ludmilla Samsonova of Russia, Marino meets Daria Snigur of Ukraine and Andreescu meets 15th seed Beatriz Haddad Maia of Brazil. For men, Auger-Aliassime meets Brit Jack Draper.
This report from The Canadian Press was first published on August 30, 2022.