Denis Shapovalov defiant on Novak Djokovic Shanghai clash, declaring ‘I have a chance to beat him!’

ATP Tour
Novak Djokovic discomfort at US Open

Denis Shapovalov defeated Frances Tiafoe at the Shanghai Masters to set up a clash with Novak Djokovic before declaring himself ready to cause an upset.

The Canadian was in fine form against his fellow NextGen star Tiafoe, earning a comprehensive 6-4 6-2 victory on Monday.

Shapovalov, though, says he is not daunted by the prospect of a clash with world number one Djokovic.

“He’s beaten me twice so there’s not much for me to lose, so I’ll just go out there and enjoy myself,” Shapovalov said. “I’ll go out there and give it all I have.

“It’s going to be a tough one, but I have a great game and I think I have a chance to beat him.”

France’s ninth seed Gael Monfils advanced to round two as he triumphed 7-5 6-7 (1) 6-3 over Lorenzo Sonego, whose fellow Italian Fabio Fognini, the 10th seed, won 6-4 6-2 against the United States’ Sam Querrey.

Fognini will now take on Andy Murray, who continued his comeback from hip surgery with a 2-6 6-2 6-3 win against Argentinian qualifier Juan Ignacio Londero.

Fourteenth seed Diego Schwartzman crashed out as he was beaten 7-6 (2) 6-2 by Vasek Pospisil, while Albert Ramos-Vinolas progressed to a meeting with second seed Roger Federer courtesy of a 6-4 6-4 win over Marin Cilic.

Third seed Daniil Medvedev, the man beaten in last month’s US Open final, faces a second-round match against Cameron Norrie after the Briton beat Gilles Simon 7-5 6-2.

Norrie’s compatriot Kyle Edmund was beaten 6-4 7-6 (3) by Simon’s fellow Frenchman Jeremy Chardy and is to lose his status as British number one.

Others making it through to round two in China on Monday were 15th seed Nikoloz Basilashvili, Benoit Paire, Cristian Garin, Pablo Carreno-Busta and Mikhail Kukushkin.

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Denis Shapovalov Novak Djokovic

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