Denis Shapovalov’s first set in the U.S. Open on Tuesday was over in a New York minute.
But it wasn’t the 19th-seeded Canadian who took only 26 minutes to post a quick 6-2 triumph in men’s singles action.
Unheralded Marc-Andrea Huesler of Switzerland jumped all over the favored Richmond Hill, Ont., athlete, who was trying to improve Canada’s first-round record at Flushing Meadows to 5-0 after singles victories on Monday by Leylah Fernandez, Rebecca Marino, Bianca Andreescu and Felix Auger-Aliassime.
But Shapovalov, who made a run to the U.S. Open quarter-finals in 2020, was able to adjust and took the next two sets 6-4, 6-4, but was bounced 6-3 in the fourth by the 26-year-old Huesler to set up a win-or-go-home fifth set.
The 23-year-old Shapovalov seemed to shift into “serious” gear in the fifth and deciding set.
By changing the tempo and his sense of urgency Shapovalov won 6-1 to advance to the next round.
“Super tough match and very happy to get the win. It was a battle, he [Huesler] was playing so well from the back,” said Shapovalov after the win. “Probably have a celebration in the ice bath after this one.”
The match, which was rearranged several times during the day, took almost three hours to complete. In women’s singles action on Wednesday, Fernandez will play Ludmilla Samsonova of Russia, Marino faces Daria Snigur of the Ukraine and Andreescu meets 15th-seeded Beatriz Haddad Maia of Brazil.
On the men’s side, Auger-Aliassime will face British player Jack Draper.
