Skip to content

Canadian Denis Shapovalov books spot in second round of Italian Open

Shapovalov to face world Stefano Travaglia, of Italy
25126281_web1_210511-RDA-Canadian-Denis-Shapovalov-books-spot-in-second-round-of-Italian-Open-tennis_1
Denis Shapovalov, of Canada, tosses the ball for a serve to Ilya Ivashka, of Belarus, during the Miami Open tennis tournament Saturday, March 27, 2021, in Miami Gardens, Fla. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP/Wilfredo Lee

ROME — Canada’s Denis Shapovalov is heading to the second round of the Italian Open.

The 13th-seed from Richmond Hill, Ont., crushed Polish qualifier Kamil Majchrzak 6-1, 6-3 at the ATP Masters 1000 clay-court event on Tuesday.

Shapovalov saved the only break point he faced.

The Canadian had a huge advantage on serve.

He won 81 per cent of his points when he got his first serve in, 40 per cent ahead of Majchrzak’s rate.

Shapovalov will face world No. 69 Stefano Travaglia, of Italy, in the second round.

Montreal’s Felix Auger-Aliassime was scheduled to play No. 8 seed Diego Schwartzman of Argentina later Tuesday.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 11, 2021.