Popsisil Pops Khachanov's US Open Chances, Shapovalov Ousts Felix

Canadian Vasek Pospisil walked onto Court 12 at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center Tuesday evening seeking his first tour-level win of the season. And after three hours and 51 minutes, the 29-year-old left the court with an impressive victory at the US Open.

Pospisil outlasted No. 9 seed Karen Khachanov 4-6, 7-5, 7-5, 4-6, 6-3, advancing to the second round in Flushing Meadows for the fourth time and for the second consecutive year. The World No. 216, who is in the main draw with a protected ranking, struck 15 aces and crushed 53 total winners to earn his fifth Top 10 triumph (5-26).

The key in the match was Pospisil's performance on break points both for and against him. The former World No. 25 converted four of the six break points he earned, whereas Khachanov was only able to take advantage of three of his 12 break chances.

Pospisil will next play American Tennys Sandgren, who rallied from two sets down to beat French star Jo-Wilfried Tsonga 1-6, 6-7(2), 6-4, 7-6(5), 7-5 after three hours and 55 minutes.

Another Canadian through to the second round is Denis Shapovalov, who eased past fellow #NextGenATP star Felix Auger-Aliassime 6-1, 6-1, 6-4 after one hour and 38 minutes. 

Shapovalov maintained the form he gained by making the Winston-Salem Open semi-finals, hitting 28 winners as he won his first-round match at the US Open for the third straight year. Auger-Aliassime, the No. 18 seed, made 28 unforced errors compared to nine winners.

The lefty will try to reach the third round of a Grand Slam for the fourth time when he faces Italian Marco Cecchinato or Swiss Henri Laaksonen.

Did You Know?
Pospisil defeated Khachanov, but the Russian won eight more points than the Canadian in the match (164-156).

from Tennis - ATP World Tour https://ift.tt/2Zg4OJ0