Denis Shapovalov is taking part in his finest tennis to shut out the 2024 season. The Canadian simply defeated Jiri Lehecka on Friday within the Belgrade semifinals to succeed in his first ultimate in over two years, his seventh general on the ATP Tour.
After a first-round battle in Belgrade, Shapovalov has been dialled in from the second spherical onwards and located one more gear within the semis, overpowering and outmanoeuvring his Czech opponent. He broke early in each units, cruising to a 6-2, 6-1 win.
It was an completely dominant efficiency from Shapovalov, who misplaced simply six factors on serve, just one on his first serve. He by no means confronted a break level within the match whereas creating 11 probabilities on the massive Czech’s serve, changing 4.
As he had in his earlier two matches, Shapovalov got here out swinging and attacked his opponent’s first serve recreation. Lehecka was a bit of sluggish off the mark and back-to-back unforced errors gave the Canadian a love-40 opening. Although he saved the primary two break factors, a backhand lengthy on the third gave Shapovalov a fast 2-0 benefit.
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The early break put the wind into the Canadian’s sails. He was in full movement all through the opening set, protecting the courtroom brilliantly and turning defence into offence within the blink of a watch, denying Lehecka any alternative to dictate together with his massive hitting.
Shapovalov had 4 probabilities to make it a double-break lead within the sixth recreation, however Lehecka was capable of save all of them and maintain. Nevertheless, he was not getting any probabilities on the Canadian’s serve and when he served to remain within the set at 2-5, the Czech fell behind love-40 and Shapovalov ripped a forehand passing shot winner to wrap up the set with a break to like.
A maintain to like to begin the second set marked 12 consecutive factors received by the Canadian. Despite the fact that Lehecka ended the run on his first service level of the set, he couldn’t break Shapovalov’s dominance. In that very same recreation, the Czech couldn’t deal with a robust backhand passing shot from the Canadian, establishing a break level the place Shapovalov ripped an enormous return that was an excessive amount of for Lehecka to deal with, as soon as once more breaking on the first alternative for a 2-0 lead within the second.
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There was no let up from the Canadian. He misplaced simply two factors on serve within the second set, holding to like thrice, and added a second break, this time to like to go up 4-0. That was greater than sufficient cushion as he rode his serve the remainder of the way in which, wrapping up the win in simply 56 minutes.
Shapovalov might be contesting his first ultimate since Vienna in October 2022 on Saturday. He’s seeking to win his second profession ATP Tour title when he takes on both Laslo Djere or Hamad Medjedovic. The Canadian leads his head-to-head with Djere 2-0 however has by no means performed Medjedovic.
