Shapovalov sinks Paul 7-5, 6-3 to reach Dallas Open final
Tommy Paul from the United States was not only the defending champion but a new member of the ATP top ten. The twenty-seven-year-old from Voorhees, New Jersey achieved a career-high ranking of #9 last month following his impressive run to the quarters at the Australian Open.
At the Dallas Open, now an ATP 500 event, he dispatched three Americans (Jenson Brooksby, Ethan Quinn, Reilly Opelka) en route to the semis. Awaiting in the penultimate round, was a southpaw from Canada.
Denis Shapovalov is currently ranked #54 but peaked at #10 in 2020. In recent years, the twenty-five-year-old has struggled with injuries but has found freedom and form in the Lonestar state including a three-set win over the top seed, Taylor Fritz.
With two indoor hard court titles and a three-set win over Paul the last time they played (W&S Open 2022), all bets were off in this high-stakes encounter.
Paul won the toss and elected to receive. Shapovalov opened with a blistering backhand down the line and though he faced break point, held with two additional winners and an unreturnable serve.
CANADIAN PRESS/AP-Manish Swarup
Paul opened with a crisp crosscourt backhand volley winner and held to 30 to level. The Canadian made 4/5 first serves and held easily to 15 while the American struck four consecutive winners including an ace and held at love for 2-2.
Shapovalov hit two consecutive winners including an ace up the tee on game point while Paul hit two consecutive forehand winners and held easily to 15 to level.
The Canadian opened the seventh with a stunning forehand inside-in and closed with an ace up the tee for 4-3. The American serving with new balls gifted two unforced errors yet held with a remarkable forehand inside-in.
Shapovalov donated two unforced errors but with a marvelous inside-out forehand and an ace down the middle, led 5-4. Paul serving to stay in the set made 6/6 first serves and hit two terrific forehands to level.
Shapovalov was clear and concise as he held at love for 6-5. Paul serving to stay in the set and force the breaker opened with an errant forehand and conceded the set following two consecutive phenomenal winners from the Canadian.
Shapovalov served first in the second and led 40-0 but faced deuce following three missed first serves. He got on the board with an ace up the tee and an incredible inside-out forehand. Paul missed 3/6 first serves and mishit two forehands yet held to 30 to level.
Shapovalov played with a sense of urgency but without trepidation. He held to 30 for 2-1 despite missing 4/6 first serves including a double fault. The newly minted world #9 hit two consecutive winners including an ace up the tee and held to 30 for parity. Shapovalov serving with new balls was fearless while facing three deuce and two break points. He unleashed three consecutive first serves and held for 3-2.
Paul missed 5/6 first serves and scrambled from corner to corner as he attempted to neutralize his opponent’s power and exceptional footwork. After thumping a first serve, he ripped a spectacular inside-out forehand to level at three.
Shapovalov struggled in the seventh as he missed the mark on serve. Although he faced two deuce points after donating two double faults, he competed like a champion to hold serve.
Paul opened the eighth with two consecutive errors, faced double break point, and dropped serve when Shapovalov crushed the backhand down-the-line pass. The Canadian served for the match and despite facing 15-30, ripped three winners including an inside-out forehand volley to secure victory.
It was an outstanding, poised performance from the former world #10. He never seemed rushed or rattled – attributes which throughout his career, have abetted his undoing.
He struck the ball off both wings with conviction and precision and with sublime movement, maintained an aggressive court position. He finished with six aces, four double faults and won 78% of first and 46% of second serve points. He saved 3/3 break points while converting 2/3.
On Sunday he will compete in his sixth final against world #5, Casper Ruud. The Norwegian with twelve career titles, achieved a career-high rank of #2 and reached three grand slam finals. While Ruud leads the head-to-head 2-0, this will be their first match on indoor hard court.
