Shapovalov loses epic AO quarter-final debut

It’s been 22-year-old Denis Shapovalov’s best Australian Open men’s singles campaign in five attempts, but it had to end some time.

In the Israeli-born Canadian’s debut Australian Open quarter-final appearance yesterday afternoon, the 14th seed battled hard from being down two sets versus sixth-seeded Spaniard and 20-time grand slam champion Rafael Nadal, to equalise at 2 sets all, and force a deciding set.

In heatwave conditions in Rod Laver Arena, it was Nadal who was able to keep his cool and raise his game, to snatch the fifth set, and win the match 6-3 6-4 4-6 3-6 6-3.

The see-sawing battle featured breathtaking rallies throughout, despite the unforgiving 33 degree heat.

Things also got heated when a clearly frustrated Shapovalov approached the chair umpire Carlos Bernardes at one point to claim that Nadal was taking longer than the 25 seconds permitted to serve after the previous point, and asked Bernardes to issue a code violation.

When Bernardes declined, Shapovalov muttered, “corrupt”, but later in the post-match press conference, he conceded that he had ‘misspoke’ with that comment, and should not have said it.

In an unusual on-court incident, Nadal and Shapovalov stopped to have a brief discussion at the net to try to resolve things, only to agree to disagree.

Shapovalov was also unhappy that after Nadal took a medical time-out after the fourth set, the Spaniard was also permitted to have a toilet break, further delaying the start of the crucial 5th set.

When asked if he felt Nadal gets preferential treatment from umpires – in terms of them not always enforcing the serving time limit rule on him, but doing so for other players during the tournament – a downcast Shapovalov answered, “Of course – 100 per cent he does.”

“I respect everything Rafa has done, and I think he is an unbelievable player, but you know, there’s got to be some boundaries, some rules set.”

Prior to that match, Shapovalov had commented, “It’s always an honour to go up [play] a guy like Rafa, adding it was a challenge he ,”was definitely going to enjoy”.

Although disappointed at not making the semis, Shapovalov can still take plenty of positives from his performance at the 2022 Australian Open.

In his wins against Laslo Djere, Soon-woo Kwon, 23rd seed Reilly Opelka, and 3rd seed Alexander Zverev, the tall, big-hitting lefty demonstrated growing confidence, fighting spirit, an improved net game, and the patience to stay in the long rallies.

On beating Zverev in straight sets in the fourth round, Shapovalov said, “I played smart, I did a good job of just staying patient, and I’m just pleased overall with my game so far, and my fighting spirit – just battling it out in every single match.”

Thanking the crowd for their support, he added, “I’ve always loved coming here [to Australia] . . . I’ve always felt the courts here suit my game and, you know, it [success] is gonna come eventually”.

OTHER RESULTS AT THE AO

After a bright start with first round wins, the 2022 AO did not go to plan for Russian-Israeli 18th seed and 2021 semi-finalist Aslan Karatsev, Jewish Argentine 13th seed Diego Schwartzman, Jewish Italian 30th seed Camila Giorgi, and 59th-ranked Jewish American Madison Brengle.

But that wasn’t due to lack of trying – particularly in Karatsev’s case.

After a gutsy 5-set first round win, Karatsev backed up with a come-from-behind 4-set win over American Mackenzie McDonald.

He then played in a brutal third round match against Frenchman Adrian Mannarino, which finished at the crazy time of 2:33am last Saturday morning, after a 4-hour and 38-minute arm wrestle.

An excitement machine, the big-hitting Karatsev hit 77 winners, but also 86 unforced errors, against Mannarino, who held on to win 7-6 6-7 7-5 6-4.

After sweeping aside Anastasia Potapova and Tereza Martincova in straight sets, Giorgi – who hadn’t played in any AO lead-up tournaments – was outclassed in the third round by world number 1, Aussie Ashleigh Barty, 2-6 3-6.

Barty praised Giorgi for, “the way she hits the ball and can control the centre of the court – it’s quite incredible – [so] it was my job to get her off the baseline”.

Brengle lost her second round match to reigning AO women’s singles champion Naomi Osaka 0-6 4-6.

A disappointed Schwartzman bowed also bowed out in the second round, to Aussie Chris O’Connell 6-7 4-6 4-6.

“It was a difficult match for me, and I think he did great on court, and deserved the win,” Schwartzman said.

And in doubles action, veteran 44-year-old Israeli Jonathan Erlich – who in 2008 won the AO men’s doubles title with countryman Andy Ram – lost in the first round.

Partnering this time with Swede Andre Goransson, they battled hard against Aussie pair Max Purcell and Matthew Ebden, but fell 6-7 (5-7) 3-6.