Canada’s Shapovalov advances to Wimbledon semis, Auger Aliassime eliminated
Posted July 7, 2021 11:51 am.
Last Updated July 7, 2021 3:18 pm.
Canadian Denis Shapovalov has advanced to the Wimbledon semifinals after defeating Russia’s Karen Khachanov in five sets, 6-4, 3-6, 5-7, 6-1, 6-4, the same day a fellow Canadian was sent home.
The last break came at 4-all in the fifth set. Shapovalov converted his fourth break chance in that game when Khachanov sent a forehand long.
“I knew it was going to be a tough match against Karen,” Shapovalov said. “We played once before and it was really physical and difficult. I knew he was playing well going into (the match) and honestly, I felt he was outplaying me for most of the match.”
Shapovalov becomes just the third Canadian to advance to a Wimbledon semis match.
“Everything was going his way, so in the fourth set, I tried to step in a little bit and play more aggressively. I felt he got a little bit tired in the fourth set and I also stepped up.”
He will now face Serbian star and world No. 1 Novak Djokovic with an opportunity to advance to the finals.
Shapovalov, seeded 10th at the All England Club, fired 17 aces in the match and won 86 per cent of his first-serve points.
He hit 59 winners to Khachanov’s 31 and converted five of his 19 break point chances.
Another Canadian, Montreal’s Felix Auger Aliassime, lost his quarters match against Italy’s Matteo Berrettini 6-3, 7-5, 7-5, 6-3.
The 20-year-old was playing in his first quarterfinal at a major tennis tournament. The Italian will now face Poland’s Hubert Hurkacz, who defeated World No. 6 Roger Federer.
Djokovic, meanwhile, reached his 10th semifinal at Wimbledon and 41st at a major tournament with a straight-set victory over unseeded Marton Fucsovics.
Djokovic won 6-3, 6-4, 6-4 on a windy, cloudy afternoon at Centre Court to continue his pursuit of a sixth championship at the All England Club and a record-tying 20th Grand Slam title overall.
With files from The Canadian Press
