A day after Félix Auger-Aliassime was surprised from two sets up, Denis Shapovalov narrowly avoided suffering the same fate as he hung on to beat Daniel Altmaier in five sets on Thursday at Wimbledon. Like his countryman, Shapovalov was in control up two sets to love, only to see his opponent battle back to force a fifth. In the decider, the 2022 semifinalist got an early lead and played a near-perfect set on serve to advance to the third round at the All England Club with a 7-6(3), 6-3, 1-6, 6-7(3), 6-4 win.
As always, Shapovalov went big, firing 51 winners but also committing 58 unforced errors, more than twice his opponent. While his serve was clutch when he needed it, winning 71 per cent of his first serve points and saving 50 per cent of break points, he also double-faulted 16 times. Shapovalov was a bit up and down in the opening set, breaking in the fifth game only to gift the break back with an error-filled game for 4-4.
He managed to find his highest level when it mattered most, though, playing a clean tiebreaker where he won every point on his own serve while earning a few errors from Altmaier to take the opening set. An early break to start the second set proved decisive for the Canadian as he drew an error with some big hitting to take a 2-0 lead. Altmaier never came close to getting the break back as Shapovalov only dropped nine points on serve on his way to a two-set lead.
Seemingly out of nowhere, Shapovalov’s level vanished in the third set after he failed to convert a break point in the second game. Errors and poorly timed double faults haunted the Canadian throughout the set as he fell behind love-40 twice and was broken both times.
Read also: Shapovalov Topples Jarry An early break to start the second set proved decisive for the Canadian as he drew an error with some big hitting to take a 2-0 lead. Altmaier never came close to getting the break back as Shapovalov only dropped nine points on serve on his way to a two-set lead.
