US Open: Pablo Carreno Busta beats Denis Shapovalov to reach quarter-finals

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Pablo Carreno BustaImage source, Reuters
Image caption,

Pablo Carreno Busta has faced four qualifiers in all four rounds of the US Open so far

US Open

Venue: Flushing Meadows, New York Dates: 28 Aug-10 Sept

BBC coverage: Live radio and text commentary on selected matches every day.

Spain's Pablo Carreno Busta overcame battling qualifier Denis Shapovalov to reach the US Open quarter-finals for the first time.

The world number 19 beat the 18-year-old Canadian 7-6 (7-2) 7-6 (7-4) 7-6 (7-3) in an entertaining encounter.

Shapovalov, ranked 50 places below his opponent, hit eight aces and 54 winners as he pushed Carreno Busta all the way.

However, the 26-year-old 12th seed remained composed to dominate the three tie-breaks and reach the next round.

Carreno Busta, the highest-ranked man left in the bottom half of the draw, will now face Argentine Diego Schwartzman, who beat Frenchman Lucas Pouille 7-6 (7-3) 7-5 2-6 6-2.

"Schwartzman is playing really good and with a lot of confidence, so the next match will be really difficult too," said Carreno Busta.

"I don't know about the next round, I just think about the quarter-finals. All the players in this part of the draw are very, very good players."

This is the second time the Spaniard has reached the quarter-finals of a Grand Slam after making the last eight of the French Open in June.

Talented Shapovalov makes his mark

Image source, AFP
Image caption,

Shapovalov has been hailed as a future Grand Slam champion

It has been an impressive tournament for Shapovalov, who came through three rounds of qualifying to play in the US Open and knocked out eighth seed Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in the second round.

Appearing at just his second Grand Slam, Shapovalov led 5-2 in the first set but a series of unforced errors allowed Carreno Busta to break back and force a tie-break.

The teenager had the chance to clinch the second set but Carreno Busta saved three break points and, despite Shapovalov winning 13 consecutive points to take a 3-0 lead in the third set, held on to serve out the match.

"I grew up wanting to play tennis. I want to try to change the sport first of all in Canada, but definitely in America," Shapovalov said after the match.

"I think I'm making an impact, and hopefully I can continue to do so, because for me the best thing in life is to see kids looking up to you and just aspiring to be like you."

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