How important has the first set been in meetings between Canadian buddies Denis Shapovalov and Felix Auger-Aliassime?
Before they met at Australian Open 2021, the winner of the opening set in all four of their pro matches — and one ITF junior encounter — prevailed.
Nothing changed in Melbourne as right-hander Auger-Aliassime beat his left-handed pal 7-5 7-5 6-3 on Margaret Court Arena to reach a second consecutive Grand Slam fourth round.
“I didn’t have so much luck here the last year but I always love this place,” Auger-Aliassime said, roared on by the fans during his on-court interview.
“So finally this year I’m playing some good tennis and am through to the second week in front of you guys, and it’s a pleasure.”
When they squared off as kids in 2010 in Canada, Shapovalov triumphed 6-0 6-0. Auger-Aliassime, 20, held in the first game on Friday to ensure that didn’t happen again but Shapovalov broke for 4-3.
However, Shapovalov entered the Australian Open on the back of a six-match losing streak and despite winning two rounds at Melbourne Park, the 11th seed’s confidence still appears lacking.
Even though Auger-Aliassime lost his seventh straight final last weekend, the 20th seed had more wins under his belt.
Shapovalov, 21 couldn't hold on to that first-set advantage and also let slip a 4-2 lead in the second.
Auger-Aliassime produced one of the shots of the tournament to break back for 4-4 — a running forehand pass when he looked well out of position — and Shapovalov wobbled.
It came as no surprise that Auger-Aliassime grabbed a 3-0 lead in the third.
The pair exchanged a hug at the net when it all ended and another fist bump as Shapovalov, who hit 19 winners and 37 unforced errors, left the court.
“It’s been an amazing night,” Auger-Aliassime said. “It’s never easy to play Denis. We played for the first time when we were nine and 10 so we go back a long time. He’s beaten pretty bad a couple of times and tonight went my way. I was flawless and I played an amazing match.”
Here’s what else happened on Friday at AO2021 in the men’s draw.
Lionhearted Karatsev onto a winner - 50 of them
Another Russian man — yes, one more — is thriving at AO2021 and he’s one you might not have heard about before.
Daniil Medvedev, Andrey Rublev and Karen Khachanov play their third-round matches on Saturday but qualifier Aslan Karatsev moved one round ahead of the more famous trio by crushing eighth seed Diego Schwartzman 6-3 6-3 6-3 to set up a meeting with Auger-Aliassime.
“It’s an unbelievable feeling,” said Karatsev, derailed earlier in his career by a knee injury. "First of all, qualifying. I was already happy. And then it’s round by round I played really good tennis. And after a lot of work I’ve done in the past (few) years, I’m happy.”
In his first Grand Slam, Karatsev thumped 50 winners against one of the game’s best movers. That included eight return winners.
“He was playing amazing tennis. Too many winners,” said Schwartzman, who countered with only five of his own.
Through three rounds the flat-hitting world No.114 hasn’t surrendered a set while tallying 122 winners.
Marcos Baghdatis, Fernando Gonzalez and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga were surprise finalists at Melbourne Park in 2006, 2007 and 2008 thanks to aggressive play.
Karatsev couldn’t do the same thing, could he?
No sleeves, no sweat for 'Sascha'
Sleeveless Alexander Zverev probably didn’t need to do much homework ahead of his clash with Adrian Mannarino.
They met for the fourth time since September — and Zverev prevailed each time against the tricky world No.36.
Their three previous encounters didn’t end in straight sets but last year's semifinalist at Melbourne Park blew past Mannarino 6-3 6-3 6-1 at Rod Laver Arena.
The German delivered 19 aces and 35 winners in a quickfire one hour 43 minutes.
“Every single time it was a very long match, very difficult match,” a smiling Zverev said on court, reflecting on those 2020 battles. “Today I felt a bit lazy so I thought maybe I’ll hit the ball a little harder so we don’t have to play for four hours and you guys don’t have to sit in the sun! All good, I’m happy.”
If he adopts the same philosophy, then Dusan Lajovic — who extended Zverev to five sets in their two duels at the French Open — better look out on Sunday.
Hopes of tight clash for Dimitrov prove a bust
Grigor Dimitrov is back into the fourth round at his most successful Grand Slam.
The phrase ‘barely had to break a sweat’ wouldn’t apply given how hot it was in Melbourne but the Bulgarian only played seven games and won them all at Margaret Court Arena after Spain’s Pablo Carreno Busta retired due to illness.
The 18th seed hasn’t dropped a set a year after suffering a tough five-set loss to American Tommy Paul in the second round.
“I felt great actually from the first point,” Dimitrov, who has made a semifinal and two quarterfinals at Melbourne Park, said on court. “I didn’t know something was bothering him. Clearly it’s very unfortunate for him.
“But also I want to give myself a little bit of credit that I stayed in the match, stayed focused. The first set in tournaments like this are so important. Also I wanted to save a lot of energy.”
Dimitrov half kidded that he would hit the practice court given the way the match concluded, glancing at his new coach, Dante Bottini, who worked with 2014 US Open finalist Kei Nishikori for nine years.
“The way my coach is looking at me, it means that, yes,” he smiled. “All jokes aside, I’m just going to go through the routines. Just staying in the moment and looking forward to the next round.”
Where he will face third seed Dominic Thiem on Valentine’s Day.
“I already bought a gift, so I’m happy with that,” Dimitrov later told reporters.
Like Dimitrov, Milos Raonic owns more victories at Melbourne Park than any other major. The Canadian 14th seed got one more when he saw off Hungary’s Marton Fucsovics 7-6(2) 5-7 6-2 6-2.
Raonic hit 13 aces and won 84 per cent of his first serve points. Meanwhile Fucsovics — coming off his marathon five-set win over Stan Wawrinka where he saved three match points — only served at 49%.
Raonic thus benefited from plenty of second serves and took full advantage.