Denis Shapovalov stuns Alexander Zverev to reach the Australian Open quarter-finals for the first time in his career
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Updated 23/01/2022 at 10:37 GMT
Denis Shapovalov has caused the biggest upset on the men's side of the Australian Open singles draw so far, knocking out the No 3 seed Alexander Zverev in straight sets on Margaret Court Arena. Shapovalov will play Nadal in his first ever Australian Open quarter-final. Stream the 2022 Australian Open live and on demand on discovery+.
Highlights: Shapovalov stuns Zverev in big upset in straight sets
Denis Shapovalov has knocked Alexander Zverev out of the Australian Open in straight sets, beating the German 6-3 7-6(5) 6-3.
Zverev never really got going against his Canadian opponent who is into his first Australian Open quarter-final after winning in two hours and 24 minutes.
Shapovalov's win over Zverev was his quickest of the tournament and the German now has a 4-15 record against top 20 players at Grand Slams.
No 14 seed Shapovalov, who reached the Wimbledon semi-finals last year, will face 20-time Grand Slam winner Rafael Nadal in the last eight.
"It is always nice to finish in three but unfortunately that is not always the case," Shapovalov said after the match.
"It's probably what I least expected, to finish in three, so I'm very happy with my performance and where my game is at.
"Off the ground I was playing really well, feeling my shots off both wings. I played pretty smart today and I felt things were going my way early on plus a little bit of momentum in the second set I did well to come back and I kind of rolled with it afterwards.
On playing Nadal next, he said: "It's always an honour to go up against a guy like Rafa. We played not too long ago in an exhibition in completely different conditions, completely different match but it's always fun and will always be a battle against him.
"It's going to be a tough one and I'm definitely going to enjoy it."
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'I love this court' - Shapovalov delighted with shock win over Zverev
Shapovalov broke the Zverev serve in the fourth game of the opening set before reeling off his remaining service games to take a surprise lead.
The Olympic gold medallist was playing passively and Shapovalov forced him back. With the momentum fully with the Canadian, Shapovalov broke Zverev in the opening game of the second set.
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'Racquet abuse warning' - Zverev furiously destroys racquet after double-faults
Zverev showed some fight to get the set back on serve at 2-2 before going ahead at 5-3, but Shapovalov rallied to get back on serve and forced a tie-break which he won on his second set point.
Zverev mentally checked out at the beginning of the third set and quickly slipped to a 3-0 deficit which he could not claw back as Shapovalov marched on to the quarter-finals.
WILANDER: ZVEREV DID NOT SHOW UP
"Zverev did not look like he showed up or at least his best game did not show up," Eurosport's Mats Wilander said in the Cube.
"He did not look emotionally invested but as Denis said in his interview everything was going his way in the beginning and we have to realise the margins are so small when these guys are playing.
"I'm really impressed with Shapovalov's attitude, I think that's where he wins it today. He became that little annoying player. Be on the guy because he does not have the game like Zverev or Medvedev so always look to come forwards and create something and consistently be there emotionally. That's him for me."
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'Zverev performance shouldn't take anything away from Shapovalov' - Konta
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