Former world no. 10 Denis Shapovalov has yet to find his A-game in 2024! The Canadian scored two wins at only five ATP tournaments this season, notching the only quarter-final in Washington and struggling to establish himself in the top-100. Shapovalov experienced early losses in Montreal and New York, traveling to Europe and delivering three Davis Cup wins in Manchester. The 25-year-old stayed in Europe and entered an indoor Challenger in Orleans, competing at this level only for the second time since 2017. Denis made a reliable start, arranging the second-round clash with the young Belgian Alexander Blockx. A teenager ousted the better-ranked opponent 6-4, 6-7, 6-2 in two hours and 19 minutes, welcoming the rival’s mistakes in the decider and moving into the quarter-final. Shapovalov produced decent numbers behind the first serve. However, the second let him down, hitting eight double faults and facing ten break points.
Alexander Blockx & Denis Shapovalov, Orleans Challenger 2024© Stream screenshot
Denis Shapovalov has barely made progress since the beginning of the season.
The Belgian fended off five of seven break points, saving his best tennis for the final set and emerging at the top. Alexander denied a break point at the start of the duel and served well in the remaining ones, pressuring his opponent. The Canadian squandered that early opportunity with a loose forehand, missing a chance to move in front. The former world no. 10 struggled behind the initial shot in the seventh game, playing against two break points. A left-hander denied them with fine hitting, holding and remaining on the positive side. Blockx produced two holds at love in the closing stages and delivered a break at 4-4 after Shapovalov’s loose forehand. The Belgian fired a service winner in game ten, wrapping up the opener 6-4 in 39 minutes. Alexander survived the second game of the second set before spraying a forehand error in game six, losing serve and propelling his rival 4-2 in front. Instead of building on that, Denis experienced a break in the next one after netting a forehand, bringing his opponent back to the positive side.
Alexander Blockx, Orleans Challenger 2024© Stream screenshot
Blockx experienced another break in the eighth game and pulled it back when Shapovalov served for the set at 5-3. They served well in the remaining three games, introducing a tie break. The Belgian led 4-2 before the Canadian climbed back, forcing the rival’s mistake in the tenth point and creating two set points. Denis seized the second with a service winner, arranging a decider after an hour and 50 minutes. The young gun made a fresh start, producing four fine holds and mounting the pressure on the more experienced rival. Shapovalov missed a routine forehand in the fourth game, losing serve and falling 3-1 behind. Alexander held at love for 4-1 and clinched the seventh game with a booming serve. Denis served to stay in the match at 2-5 and hit a double fault, offering his opponent three match points. The Belgian converted the second with a forehand down the line winner, moving into his fourth Challenger quarter-final of the season.