Canadians Denis Shapovalov and Felix Auger-Aliassime are out of the Shanghai Masters after two rounds.
Shapovalov of Richmond Hill, Ont., lost 6-3, 7-5 to Ben Shelton, who made the quarterfinals in Shanghai
last year.
Shelton struck 11 aces and never faced a break point in the 77-minute match. Shapovalov mustered only 11 winners and finished with five double faults.
“I’m trying to work on being a little bit more calm and focused on the court,” Shelton said. “I think that it’s important for my evolution, and in the evolution of my game, that I continue to be able to focus for extended periods of time and really lock in to play at a higher level for more than one set. I thought I did a great job of that today.”
Shelton hit 21 winners and won 12 of the 13 points on his second serve to set up a third-round meeting with Spain’s Roberto Carballes Baena, a 7-6 (4), 7-6 (5) winner against No. 21 seed Arthur Fils of France.
WATCH | Shapovalov collects only 11 winners in 2nd-round loss in Shanghai:
Denis Shapovalov of Richmond Hill, Ont., falls to American Ben Shelton in straight sets (6-3,7-5) and exits the Shanghai Masters tournament in the round of 64.
Shapovalov improved to 2-1 in his career against Italian Lorenzo Sonego on Wednesday with a 7-6 (5), 7-6 (8) result in the first round. The victory marked the Canadian’s 200th career win on tour.
Alexandre Muller of France beat 18th-seeded Felix Auger-Aliassime 6-3, 6-2, on Friday with the Montreal athlete having now lost the opening match at four of his last five tour-level tournaments.
Muller advances to face 12th-ranked Stefanos Tsitsipas, who had a stern test against Kei Nishikori but prevailed 7-6 (6), 6-4 in 105 minutes, avenging a defeat to his Japanese opponent at the Montreal Masters in August.
WATCH | Auger-Aliassime falls in straight sets to Muller in China:
Felix Auger-Aliassime of Montreal, Que., loses in round two to Alexandre Muller of France in straight sets (6-3,6-2).
There was a surprise outcome Friday as 91st-ranked Aleksandar Vukic stunned the eighth-seeded Casper Ruud 6-4, 6-4 for the biggest victory of his career.
“I’m very proud of myself, very happy,” Vukic said. “I played a very good match. It was very clean.”
Swiatek won 4 Slams with Wiktorowski
Iga Swiatek of Poland announced a split with coach Tomasz Wiktorowski on Friday after a three-year partnership.
The world No. 1 won four of her five Grand Slams, 19 of her 22 career titles and an Olympic bronze medal in Paris while working with Wiktorowski, who was voted WTA coach of the year by his peers in 2023.
“After 3 years of the greatest achievements in my career, together with my coach Tomasz Wiktorowski we decided to part way,” Swiatek posted on Instagram. “I want to start with a big thank you and appreciating our work together.”
Swiatek, 23, began working with Wiktorowski at the end of the 2021 season. Their time together also included her 37-match win streak in 2022, the longest streak of the 21st century.
Swiatek, who withdrew from this week’s China Open, cited the change in her sports team as a reason to withdraw from next week’s Wuhan Open.
“I’m really sorry for fans in China and those who wait to see me play, but I hope you understand that I need some time,” she said.
