Denis Shapovalov defeated Roberto Carballes Baena in four sets 6-4, 4-6, 6-3, 6-2 in the second round of the US Open.
Shapovalov had experienced the same second-round scenario as in 2021 when he knocked out Carballes Baena.
The Canadian offered eight break points in the first set, but he could not convert his first four chances on his rival’s first serve. The Canadian, however, recovered in the sixth game when he had lost his previous serve to the Spaniard to bring the game back to even service. Shapo then finished the set 6-4 with a second break.
The opposite situation arose in the second set as the Spaniard took the lead 6-4 over the Canadian. Carballes Baena only needed one break point in the seventh game to take the lead on the set. Both players never faced a break in the rest of the inning.
Shapovalov bounced back to win the next set 6-3, smashing his opponent in the sixth game without conceding a single break point. The Canadian won 22 of the 31 points he contested on serve and he had 10 winners in the set.
With the wind in the sails, Shapovalov cruised through the fourth set 6-2 in 35 minutes to wrap up his victory. The southpaw won 29 of 46 points in the set and twice broke his opponent in three break points to advance to the third round where he will face Andrey Rublev.
The Ontarian was dominant on serve with 11 aces against only one for his opponent. Shapo converted 70% of his points on serve and gave up just five break points in four sets. He erased three of these.
Shapovalov is the only Canadian still in singles action after losing to Félix Auger-Aliassime on Wednesday.
Leylah Fernandez, who was eliminated in singles in the second round against Liudmila Samsonova, advanced to the second round in doubles with Australian Daria Saville. The pair upset second seeds Coco Gauff and Jessica Pegula of the United States in three sets of 3-6, 7-5, 7-6.
Gabriela Dabrowski began her career in mixed doubles with Max Purcell. They beat China’s Zhaoxuan Yang and India’s Rohan Bopanna in identical sets 7-5.
Fernandez and Saville surprise the second seeds!
