MONTREAL: Canadian teenager Denis Shapovalov delighted his home fans when he battled from a set down to record a stunning upset victory over top seed Rafael Nadal in the third round of the Rogers Cup on Thursday, temporarily spoiling the Spaniard’s chances of returning to world number one.

The lanky wild card kissed the Montreal court after completing a rousing 3-6, 6-4, 7-6 (7-4) triumph as the 18-year-old continued his giant killing form at the hardcourt tournament to become the youngest player to ever reach the quarter-finals of an ATP Masters 1000 event.

“It’s what I dreamed of all my life growing up, playing guys like Rafa [Nadal], Roger [Federer], Andy [Murray],” Shapovalov said. “You know, my dream came true today.”

The 31-year-old Nadal would have returned to No 1 in the world if he had reached the semi-finals.

“He played well,” Nadal said. “He has a great potential. I wish him the best. He has everything to become a great player. He played with the right determination in the important moments.”

As a reward for his unlikely victory, the 2016 Wimbledon junior champion will next face 29-year-old Frenchman Adrian Mannarino in the quarter-finals. Mannarino defeated Hyeon Chung of South Korea 6-3, 6-3.

Roger Federer overcame a weak first set to post a 4-6, 6-4, 6-2 victory over Spaniard David Ferrer in an earlier third-round match.

In the quarter-finals, the second-seeded Federer will face 12th-seeded Roberto Bautista Agut of Spain, who outlasted Frenchman Gael Monfils 4-6, 7-6 (7-5), 7-6 (7-2) on centre court at Uniprix Stadium.

Unseeded Argentine Diego Schwartzman posted a strange win over American Jared Donaldson 0-6, 7-5, 7-5 to advance to a quarter-final meeting with Robin Haase, the 52nd-ranked Dutchman who upset seventh-seeded Grigor Dimitrov of Bulgaria 7-6 (7-3), 4-6, 6-1.

Kevin Anderson of South Africa downed American Sam Querrey 6-4, 6-1 and will next play fourth-seeded German Alexander Zverev, who ousted 16th-seeded Australian Nick Kyrgios 6-4, 6-3.

VENUS, KERBER OUSTED

In the women’s tournament in Toronto, world number one Karolina Pliskova advanced to the quarter-finals while a pair of high seeds Venus Williams and Angelique Kerber crashed out in straight sets.

Pliskova’s opponent Naomi Osaka abandoned due to a muscle injury, leaving the Czech to advance 6-2, 6-7 (4-7), 1-0.

She moves on to play sixth seed and former world number one Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark, who defeated 10th-seeded Agnieszka Radwanska of Poland 6-3, 6-1 in just 78 minutes.

Ukraine’s Elina Svitolina broke American Venus six times en route to a near-perfect 6-2, 6-1 victory. Svitolina’s 40th win of the year booked her first Rogers Cup quarter-final appearance.

Unseeded American Sloane Stephens upset former world number one Kerber 6-2, 6-2 as she continues her comeback from a year-long absence due to a foot injury.

In the quarter-finals, Stephens will face Czech Lucie Safarova who outlasted Russia’s Ekaterina Makarova 6-3, 6-7 (3-7), 6-2.

Second-seeded Simona Halep of Romania needed only 59 minutes to breeze by Barbora Strycova of the Czech Republic 6-1, 6-0 while France’s Caroline Garcia beat 18-year-old American Catherine Bellis 6-4, 6-2.

Fourth seed Garbine Muguruza dispatched Ashleigh Barty of Australia 6-0, 3-6, 6-2 at their centre court meeting.

Published in Dawn, August 12th, 2017