Abu Dhabi: Denis Shapovalov beats Nadal and takes 3rd place
Denis Shapovalov won the game for 3rd place against Rafael Nadal.
by Florian Goosmann
last edit: Dec 18, 2021, 04:18 pm
Shapovalov won 6: 7, 6: 3 and [10: 6] and thus secured the place on the podium at the Mubadala World Tennis Championship invitation tournament.
Shapovalov had already served to win the set in the first half, but Nadal managed the rebreak. In the tie-break, the Canadian was 2-1 in the lead, but afterwards Nadal was the more stable. In the end, the match tie-break had to decide, Nadal ran after an early mini-break, and in the meantime also left something behind when it came to the connection. Shapovalov made the decision with a sensational forehand for the second minbreak and thus to 8: 5.
"Every time I can step onto the pitch with someone like Rafa, it's an honor," said the world number 14. "I played three great matches. I hope to be able to come here for many years to come." After three or four weeks of preparation for the new season, it is nice to see "that my game is there. Even if I still have to work on a few areas."
Shapovalov had said these days that Nadal had killed him while training during the week.
Andy Murray and Andrey Rublev will meet in the final in Abu Dhabi.