ATP US Open: Alexander Zverev downs Brandon Nakashima. Denis Shapovalov advances

World no. 7 Alexander Zverev will compete in the US Open's third round for the third straight year, ousting the young American Brandon Nakashima 7-5, 6-7, 6-3, 6-1 in two hours and 55 minutes. Firing 24 aces and ten double faults, the German controlled the pace with 60 winners and 35 unforced errors, starting all over from set number three to defeat a tough rival and advance into the last 32. Nakashima wasted all five break chances, giving serve away five times from ten opportunities offered to Zverev and fading from the court after a rock-solid display in sets one and two. Hitting the zone behind the initial shot right from the start, Zverev sailed through his service games in the opener, challenging Nakashima to repeat that if he wanted to stay in touch. Brandon saved three break points in the fifth game, falling short just before the tie break in the 11th game when Alexander grabbed a crucial break that led him towards 7-5.

The German experienced first troubles in his games at 4-5 in set number two, saving two set points and reaching a tie break where Nakashima saved a set point at 7-8, converting his fifth chance to seize it 10-8 and level the overall score. With no signs of panic, Zverev grabbed a break in the fourth game of the third set, keeping the advantage after fending off break chances in the next one and securing the set with a hold at 30 in game nine. Nakashima didn't have anything left in the tank, getting broken thrice in the fourth set to propel one of the favorites over the finish line. The 12th seed Denis Shapovalov had to dig deep against another youngster Soonwoo Kwon, beating the Korean 6-7, 6-4, 6-4, 6-2 in three hours and 42 minutes. Blasting 20 aces, Denis repelled six out of seven break chances offered to Kwon, staying focused after the opener to seal the deal in under four hours and preserve energy for the next encounter.

Alexander Zverev and Denis Shapovalov have moved into the third round.

The opening set saw no breaks and it was Kwon who grabbed five straight points in the tie break from 5-2 down to bring the opener home in 62 minutes. Keeping his serve safe in set number two, Shapovalov scored the first break in game five, closing the set in game ten to gather momentum. They traded breaks in games six and seven of set number three, with Denis clinching another one after a perfect backhand down the line winner at 4-4. The Canadian held at love with a service winner in game ten for a 6-4, rattling off four games in a row to move closer to the finish line.

Shapovalov had the upper hand in set number four, earning breaks in games one and five and sealing the deal with a service winner in game eight to march into the third round. The most prominent American hope Taylor Fritz defeated the French veteran Gilles Simon 7-5, 6-3, 6-2 in two hours, landing 43 winners and erasing eight out of nine break chances offered to the veteran. Simon came back from 5-2 down in the first set, only to lose 14 of the final 19 games, unable to match Fritz's numbers or defend his games more efficiently. Following a great run in Cincinnati, Filip Krajinovic is off to a great start at the US Open as well, beating Marcos Giron 6-4, 6-1, 6-3 in under two hours. The Serb lost serve once and performed six breaks that carry him over the top and into the last 32. 

from Tennis World USA https://ift.tt/31RIlSb