Bublik Battles Past Shapovalov In Marseille

Alexander Bublik booked a place in the third ATP Tour semi-final of his career on Friday by beating fourth-seeded Canadian Denis Shapovalov 7-5, 4-6, 6-3 in two hours and 18 minutes at the Open 13 Provence. It was his biggest match win since overcoming then No. 13-ranked Roberto Bautista Agut in October 2016 at the VTB Kremlin Cup.

“He’s a great player and server,” said Bublik, in an on-court interview. “It was our first match, but I’ve known him for a very long time. I was happy to break in the first set, then in the second set he was better, and I had my chances in the third and I held on. So I’m very happy.”

The Kazakhstani, who reached two finals in 2019 at the Hall of Fame Open (l. to Isner) and the Chengdu Open (l. to Carreno Busta), will now prepare to face second seed and defending champion Stefanos Tsitsipas or Vasek Pospisil on Saturday.

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Bublik, who saved a total of four break points in the first set, including from 0/40 at 4-4, got his reward at 6-5 when he drew Shapovalov to the net only for the Canadian to hit a forehand volley wide at 30/40 to end the 45-minute opener. Bublik had lost just three of his first-service points.

The pair exchanged service breaks early in the second set, before there was a 10-minute suspension in the sixth game when a female spectator fainted in the stands. Bublik missed three opportunities to take a 4-2 lead, notably hitting a forehand approach into the net on his first break point, and paid the price when Shapovalov anticipated a drop shot to break serve in the next game. Shapovalov closed out the set with his third ace.

Bublik, who let slip a 2-0 lead in the decider, was gifted a 5-3 advantage when Shapovalov hit a forehand wide and closed out the match with a hold to love.

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