Shapovalov, Raonic book spots in quarters at St. Petersburg Open
The Canadian Press | Posted: October 15, 2020 2:17 PM | Last Updated: October 16, 2020
American Querrey may have breached virus protocol in Russia; Auger-Aliassime advances in Germany
Canadians Denis Shapovalov and Milos Raonic are both heading to the quarter-finals of the St. Petersburg Open.
The second-seeded Shapovalov, from Richmond Hill, Ont., beat qualifier Ilya Ivashka of Belarus 6-1, 6-4 in a second-round match at the ATP Tour 500 hard-court event on Thursday.
The sixth-seeded Raonic, from Thornhill, Ont., beat Alexander Bublik of Kazakhstan 6-3, 6-2.
Shapovalov, the world No. 12, saved all five break points he faced and won 89 per cent of points when he got his first serve in.
WATCH | Shapovalov advances at St. Petersburg Open:
"I am in good shape now and I played really well today," Shapovalov said.
The Canadian will face No. 5 seed Stan Wawrinka of Switzerland in the quarterfinals on Friday. Their lifetime series is tied at 1-1.
"Wawrinka is a very tough opponent," Shapovalov said. "I think he is in very good shape now. He played two difficult matches in this tournament. I think I've met him twice already. It is especially difficult to play against him when he feels confident. I think tomorrow will be a difficult match, but I think that I am also in good shape, and I also played very well in two matches here."
Raonic in charge
Raonic, ranked 21st in the world, also was perfect facing his opponent's break points, saving all four.
Raonic will face No. 4 seed Karen Khachanov of Russia in the quarter-finals.
WATCH | Raonic downs Bublik:
Shapovalov is the highest seed left after top-seeded Daniil Medvedev of Russia lost 2-6, 7-5, 6-4 to American Reilly Opelka in the second round.
No. 7 seed Borna Coric of Crotia faces Opelka, while No. 3 seed Andrey Rublev of Russia meets Great Britain's Cameron Norrie in the other quarter-finals.
WATCH | Raonic ready for Bublik underhand:
Felix Auger-Aliassime advances at indoor event
Canada's Felix Auger-Aliassime has advanced to the quarter-finals of the Cologne Indoors.
The third-seeded Auger-Aliassime, from Montreal, beat Swiss qualifier Henri Laaksonen 6-4, 6-1 in the second round of the ATP Tour 250 indoor hard-court event on Thursday.
Auger-Aliassime, who received a first-round bye, never faced a break point against Laaksonen.
The Canadian won 27 of 30 points (90 per cent) when he got his first serve in.
"When the nerves went away and I started feeling better and serving better and started going for my shots, I felt like I was getting the advantage in this match," Auger-Aliassime said.
It was Auger-Aliassime's first match of the fall hard-court season, after he lost in the first round on clay at the French Open.
Auger-Aliassime will face world No. 82 Radu Albot of Moldova in the quarter-finals on Friday.
WATCH | Auger-Aliassime through to quarters in Cologne:
Querrey accused of leaving Russia despite positive test
U.S. tennis player Sam Querrey was placed in isolation by Russian authorities after testing positive for the coronavirus but left the country on a private plane, organizers of the St. Petersburg Open said on Thursday.
The tournament said Querrey and his wife tested positive on Sunday, the day before main draw play started. They tested negative on arrival in Russia four days earlier. He was withdrawn from the competition and the family was asked to isolate together at a hotel.
In a statement, the tournament said Querrey did not open the door to doctors who came to examine the family on Monday, saying his baby son was sleeping, and the family then left the hotel before a second scheduled examination the next day.
"Sam Querrey, as the hotel's security cameras identified, left the hotel together with his family at 5:45 a.m. on Oct. 13 without informing the reception service. As Querrey told an ATP representative, he left Russia with his family on a private plane," the tournament said, citing information from the ATP Tour.
The ATP said it was investigating an incident at the tournament, but did not name Querrey.
"The ATP is aware of an incident regarding a player's serious breach of protocol relating to COVID-19 at this week's St. Petersburg Open," the tour said.