(Miami) Canadian Denis Shapovalov advanced to the third round of the Miami Open by defeating Argentinian Guido Pella in three sets 6-3, 3-6, 6-3 on Friday.
Shapovalov got his third break of the game, in the eighth game of the final set, when Pella double faulted.
The Canadian then won his serve at zero to advance to the third round. He will face ninth-seeded American Taylor Fritz or American Emilio Nava.
Shapovalov (#25) was given a bye to the second round in Miami.
The Ontarian recorded a quick break to take a 2-0 lead in the first set. He then saved a break point and hit an ace on his first set point in the ninth game.
Pella smashed his opponent to give himself a 3-1 lead in the second set, but Shapovalov smashed the Argentine in the next game.
Pella once again smashed Shapovalov to take a 4-2 lead and he forced a final set by winning his serve to nil.
Shapovalov is now undefeated in two duels against Pella. The two players had crossed swords in the second round of the Rome Masters in 2020.
On the women’s side, Ontario’s Bianca Andreescu takes on Greek Maria Sakkari. Later in the evening, the Quebecer Leylah Fernandez will do battle with the Swiss Belinda Bencic.
Saturday, the Quebecer and fifth seed Félix Auger-Aliassime will face the Brazilian Thiago Monteiro, in the second round.
