Carlos Alcaraz is the King of Tennis Paradise proper now and Denis Shapovalov bought a style of his dominance on Monday night time. The Canadian was knocked out within the third spherical of Indian Wells by the two-time defending champion in straight units.
The Spaniard asserted himself early and although Shapovalov refused to go away quietly, he was by no means capable of reel Alcaraz again in, falling 6-2, 6-4.
This was the third 12 months in a row that Alcaraz defeated a Canadian on the BNP Paribas Open, having crushed Félix Auger-Aliassime every of the final two years on the Masters 1000 occasion.
Shapovalov’s serve was not as efficient as he wanted it to be on Monday night time. He put simply 53 per cent of his first serves in play, solely gained 36 per cent of his second-serve factors, and double-faulted eight instances. He was damaged 4 instances on eight alternatives whereas solely changing one in every of his 4 possibilities.
It took Alcaraz little time to grab management. A few large forehands, together with a monster winner down the road on break level, allowed him to land a blow within the opening recreation of the match. Within the Canadian’s subsequent service recreation, he needed to struggle again from 15-40 down however an Alcaraz return winner arrange one other break level the place Shapovalov missed a backhand to go down a double break.
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There have been indicators that the Canadian might get himself again into it, however Alcaraz appeared to have all of the solutions. He saved a pair of break factors at 3-0 after which dropped in a forehand passing shot to interrupt for a 3rd time within the following recreation. Whereas Shapovalov did lastly get on the board within the sixth recreation, breaking the primary time Alcaraz served for it at 5-0 after which getting his first maintain, it was too large a gap to dig out of because the Spaniard served it out on the second time of asking.
Shapovalov appeared to take some confidence from his improved end to the primary set and bought off to a greater begin within the second, hanging with the Spaniard by way of six video games. However at 3-3, a double fault from the Canadian put him behind 15-40 and on the second break level, Alcaraz blasted a too-hot-to-handle backhand down the road to attain the break.
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That was all of the Spaniard wanted as he held his last two service video games to safe the win.
With Shapovalov’s loss, no Canadians stay in Indian Wells. Subsequent cease would be the second leg of the Sunshine Double in Miami, which will get underway subsequent week.
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