Shapovalov defeats Tsitsipas in Gen Next battle

Shapovalov, the 20-year-old left hander, gave Canada an unassailable 2-0 lead in the tie with a 7-6(6), 7-6(4) win over World No.6 Tsitsipas at the Patrick Rafter Arena. The $15 million ATP Cup, which features 24 nations competing in Perth, Brisbane and Sydney, is a solid platform for the world’s top players to prepare for this month’s Australian Open.

German Alexander Zverev started brightly by going two breaks up against Australian No.1 Alex de Minaur in the opening set, but suffered a spectacular meltdown to lose 6-4, 6-7(3), 2-6 as the host sealed the tie. As the match progressed, De Minaur, 20, frustrated Zverev, who smashed his racket seven times in the second set in front of a partisan crowd.

A serving masterclass from Nick Kyrgios had given the home side the lead after the right hander comfortably beat Jan-Lennard Struff 6-4, 7-6(4). The mercurial Kyrgios has pledged a A$200 ($140) donation for every ace he serves during Australia’s summer of tennis in support of relief and recovery efforts for victims of the country’s bushfire catastrophe.

He contributed handsomely to the cause by smashing 20 of them against his German opponent. His home town of Canberra has been severely affected by the bushfires and a number of Australian sports stars have rallied behind Kyrgios.

The participating teams for the ATP Cup were determined by the singles ranking of their best player. Six of the top seven players in the world, barring Swiss great Roger Federer, have arrived in Australia. The 21-year-old Tsitsipas was considered the favourite going into his match against Shapovalov, having defeated Federer and Dominic Thiem to win the ATP Finals in last November.

But Shapovalov, who played brilliantly to lead Canada to its first Davis Cup final in November where it lost to Rafael Nadal’s Spain, was the better player. After more than two hours of power hitting in a match featuring no breaks of serve, Shapovalov converted his firstmatch point when Tsitsipas double-faulted on his serve.

The event did not get off to the best start with organisers playing the wrong national anthem for Moldova ahead of its tie against Belgium in Sydney and apologising personally to the team for the blunder. Moldova lost the tie 0-3. In the day’s other tie, Casper Ruud defeated American John Isner to spark an unlikely 2-1 comeback win for Norway.