Denis Shapovalov from Canada secured a spot in the quarterfinals of the Stockholm Open by defeating local favorite Leo Borg with a score of 6-2, 5-7, 6-1. Shapovalov, seeded third in the tournament, demonstrated a strong performance with six aces and an impressive 83% first serve points won against Borg, the 22-year-old son of Swedish legend Bjorn Borg. Despite Borg’s wild-card entry into the ATP 250 event, he struggled with his serves, facing 18 break points and managing to save 11 of them.
Borg showed resilience in the second set by securing three breaks in a four-game winning streak. However, Shapovalov, ranked 23rd globally, swiftly turned the tide in the third set, claiming victory with five consecutive game wins after a competitive start. The 26-year-old Shapovalov, hailing from Richmond Hill, Ont., is set to face either Jacob Fearnley from Britain or another Swedish wild card, Elias Ymer, in the next round.
In a separate match at the Almaty Open, Montreal’s Gabriel Diallo was eliminated after a hard-fought battle against Australian qualifier James Duckworth, ending in a 7-6 (3), 6-7 (3), 6-4 defeat. Despite Diallo’s remarkable 22 aces and an 82% accuracy on first serves, Duckworth managed to maintain his composure, not allowing any break points during the match that lasted over two and a half hours. Duckworth secured a crucial break in the third set, taking a 4-3 lead and ultimately clinching the victory.
Diallo, the fourth seed at the tournament and currently ranked 35th globally, faced eight break points, successfully defending seven of them. The defeat brought Diallo’s season record to 28-22. Duckworth is now set to compete against third seed Flavio Cobolli of Italy in the quarterfinals of the ATP 250 event, marking their first main-draw encounter after Diallo’s previous victory over Duckworth in the 2022 National Bank Open qualifying round in Montreal.
Additionally, fourth seed Leylah Fernandez from Laval, Que., is scheduled to play against Hungary’s Dalma Galfi in the second round of the Japan Women’s Open in Osaka on Thursday.