Denis Shapovalov advances to Stockholm quarter-finals
20-year-old Canadian in pursuit of 1st ATP title
Canada's Denis Shapovalov is off to the quarter-finals at the Stockholm Open.
The No. 4 seed from Richmond Hill, Ont., beat Australian qualifier Alexei Popyrin 6-4, 7-6 (3) on Thursday in a second-round match at the ATP Tour 250 event.
Shapovalov, who got a first-round bye, won 92 per cent of his points when he got his first serve in and saved four of five break-point chances for the 90th-ranked Popyrin.
The 20-year-old Shapovalov, ranked 34th, is looking for his first career ATP Tour title.
WATCH | Shapovalov ousts Popyrin in Stockholm:
The draw could be in the Canadian's favour. Just one other seeded player — No. 5 Pablo Carreno Busta of Spain — is left.
Top seed Fabio Fognini of Italy lost 6-1, 6-1 to Janko Tipsarevic of Serbia on Thursday. Tipsarevic, 35, is playing in his final ATP event before retirement.
Shapovalov will face German qualifier Cedrik Marcel-Stebe in the quarter-finals on Friday.