Qatar Open 2022: Top seed Denis Shapovalov stunned by Arthur Rinderknech in Doha quarter-finals
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Updated 17/02/2022 at 20:03 GMT
Arthur Rinderknech produced a strong performance to knock out the number one seed in Doha, with Denis Shapovalov enduring a tough serving day to miss out on a place in the last four. The Canadian left-hander double faulted nine times in a 6-4, 6-4 defeat, with Rinderknech continuing a strong start to 2022 that saw the Frenchman reach his first ATP final in Adelaide in January.
Denis Shapovalov of Canada during 49th ABN AMRO World Tennis Tournement 2022 at Ahoy on February 8, 2022 in Rotterdam, The Netherland
Image credit: Getty Images
Top seed Denis Shapovalov was stunned in straight sets by France's Arthur Rinderknech in the quarter-finals of the Qatar Open.
The Canadian left-hander double-faulted nine times on his way to a 6-4, 6-4 defeat.
Shapovalov has struggled for singles form since he lost his Australian Open quarter-final five-set thriller against eventual champion Rafael Nadal in Melbourne, crashing out in the first round of the Rotterdam Open last week to Jiri Lehecka.
However, determined to fight back, the 22-year-old has shown signs of a quick recovery from his defeat against Rinderknech in Doha, by teaming up with Rohan Bopanna of India just hours after his shock exit to reach the final of the men's doubles.
They will meet Britain's Neal Skupski, who, alongside his partner Wesley Koolhof, claimed a straight sets victory against Andrey Golubev and Fabrice Martin in their semi-final.
As for Rinderknech, he provided a composed performance to upset Shapovalov, being steadier on serve as he continued a fine start to 2022 by advancing to the last four.
The 25-year-old reached his first ATP Tour final in Adelaide in January, losing to Thanasi Kokkinakis but entering the world's top 50 for the first time.
He had been due to face Dan Evans in the second round of the Australian Open but was forced to withdraw with a wrist injury.
Rinderknech beat another left-hander, Jiri Vesely, in the first round in Doha, before felling seventh seed Alexander Bublik to set up the Shapovalov meeting.
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Highlights: Nadal survives Shapovalov five-setter to reach semi-finals
In the semi-finals, Rinderknech will face defending champion Nikoloz Basilashvili after he got past Marton Fuscovics 1-6, 6-3, 7-5.
It is only since arriving in Qatar that Basilashvili has found anything like the form which saw him take the title last year, having lost his opening six matches of the 2022 season.
After going down 6-1 in the first set, the Georgian number one could have been forgiven for letting the ghosts of earlier performances this year haunt him, but he fought back to capitalise on mistakes from Fuscovics to book his place in the semi-finals.
It could yet prove to be a repeat of last year's final, after Spain's Roberto Bautista Agut - who was beaten by Basilashvili in straight sets in the showpiece match last time out - also secured a place in the last four, turning his mind firmly to seeking revenge.
Fresh from demolishing Andy Murray, with the British former world number one winning just one game in their clash, Bautista Agut was in unstoppable form once again as he tore apart his compatriot Alejandro Davidovich Fokina in a 6-1, 6-1 thrashing.
The semi-final line-up was completed after a tense battle between Karen Khachanov and Marin Cilic - with the Russian coming out on top over three sets.
Cilic took the first set 6-3, before Khachanov fought back to take the second by the same score. The deciding set was neck and neck at 4-4, before the Croatian was broken by Khachanov who then served out to set up a clash with Bautista Agut in the next round.
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