Canada's Shapovalov sees dominant Japan Open run end in semifinal loss to Fritz

Denis Shapovalov's run at the Japan Open came to a close Saturday after a 3-6, 7-6 (5), 3-6 semifinal loss at the hands of Taylor Fritz.

The 26-year-old Richmond Hill, Ont. native, who was coming off a final appearance at the Korean Open last weekend, was yet to lose a set in Tokyo.

Shapovalov fired eight aces to Fritz's six but only broke on two out of seven opportunities. The American was 4-of-6 on break point chances.

Fritz, who spent a week in quarantine after testing positive for COVID-19 in Seoul last week, fought back in the decisive set after trailing 3-1 to earn the victory.

WATCH | Shapovalov ousted by Fritz:

Shapovalov falls to Fritz in Japan Open semifinals

2 years ago

Duration 4:30

American Taylor Fritz defeats Denis Shapovalov of Richmond Hill, Ont., 3-6, 7-6 (5), 3-6 in the semifinals of the Japan Open.

His victory ensured he will make his top 10 debut in next week's rankings.

It will be Fritz's third final this year, having won the other two at Indian Wells and Eastbourne.

In the other semifinal, Tiafoe added a little more sparkle to his already glittering season by beating South Korea's Kwon Soon-woo 6-2 0-6 6-4.

The American, who reached his first Grand Slam semi-final at the U.S. Open in September, reached his second title-decider of the season despite a poor second set in his victory.

Kwon looked nervous at times in the opener and struggled to handle Tiafoe's deft mix of accuracy, touch and power as the American rattled off five games in a row before claiming the set 6-2. But the South Korean then swept the second set 6-0.

Fourth-seeded Tiafoe upped the ante in the third, winning the two break points he needed to serve for the match at 5-2, only to stumble once more.

The American sealed the win at the second time of asking with a cross-court forehand.

Djokovic into Astana final

Novak Djokovic survived a second-set tiebreaker in the Astana Open semifinals and shortly after his opponent Daniil Medvedev retired with a leg injury on Saturday.

Djokovic advanced at 4-6, 7-6 (6). He will play third-seeded Stefanos Tsitsipas in Sunday's final.

"I really hope that his injury is nothing too serious," Djokovic said. "I know Daniil, he's a great guy, he's a fighter, he's a big competitor. . . . He told me that he pulled an adductor muscle in his leg.

"It was such a close match, particularly in the second set. I would probably say he was a better player on the court in both sets. I was fighting and trying to find a way. I found a way to win the second, but I'm just sad for the tournament and for these people who were enjoying the battle, and for Daniil that it had to end this way."

Going in to the match, Medvedev had a 4-6 win-loss record against Djokovic, and they hadn't met since last November in the Paris final, where Djokovic won in three sets.

In the other semifinal, Tsitsipas rallied to beat fifth-seeded Andrey Rublev 4-6, 6-4, 6-3.

Rublev won the first set after saving three break points. Tsitsipas broke in the 10th game of the second to level the set score. He was more aggressive the longer the match went, and far more decisive than Rublev in the decider.

"My mentality kind of changed," Tsitsipas said. "I played with more of an aggressive game style and didn't have anything by luck. I was conscious of every single decision I was trying to follow and execute and those service games worked out pretty well. They kept me in the game and gave me that hope."

He will be going for his third title of the year, after Monte Carlo and Mallorca, in his sixth final of the season.