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No. 7 seed Denis Shapovalov insisted he knew it would not be easy playing world No. 95 Roberto Carballes Baena in the US Open second round. Shapovalov, ranked at No. 10 in the world, struggled a bit in the opening set but escaped with a 7-6 (7) 6-3 6-0 win over Carballes Baena.
Last year, Carballes Baena stunned Shapovalov at the French Open and the Canadian was determined to avoid that outcome this time. “It was definitely a tough match-up. Having played him at Roland Garros… I knew it was going to be very difficult,” Shapovalov said, per the ATP website.
“I feel super happy with myself to get away with it in straight sets. It could have been a very, very long match”.
Shapovalov didn't lack confidence
“I came into the match confidently knowing I've improved so much since last year and I feel like a completely different player in terms of my game and in terms of mentally, what I've been through the last year or so,” Shapovalov said.
“Definitely, was more confident on the court. “Especially when I felt a little bit of nerves and tense here and there… I knew I would have a lot of moments to kind of get rid of it. I just kept fighting. It was a little bit more experience.
I was a little bit calmer. I'm just very happy with the way I was able to fight today”. Shapovalov, who made the Us Open quarterfinal last year, is hoping to make another deep run at Flushing Meadows. “I think in general New York is a city I've always felt loved in,” Shapovalov said.
“I always feel great every year I come back here. Of course, with making quarter-finals here last year, and the semi-finals run at Wimbledon, I kind of know how to prepare myself a little bit more, I’m more comfortable leading into these big tournaments”.