Denis Shapovalov impresses on his debut for Orleans Challenger

Former world number 10 Denis Shapovalov still needs to find the desired form in 2024, missed the top-100 return after a lackluster 18-20 showing at the premier level. The Canadian suffered early losses in Montreal and New York before claiming three victories for his country in the Davis Cup.

Instead of traveling to Beijing or Tokyo for the qualifying matches, Denis stayed in Europe and took part in the Co’met Orleans Open Challenger, back at this level for only the second time since 2017! The world number 101 made an impressive debut on an indoor hardcourt, beating Benjamin Hassan 6-3, 6-1 in 51 minutes to claim his first Challenger victory in over seven years!

The Canadian served at 50%, but nobody saw it. He dropped six points in his games, got no break points and put the pressure on the other side. Hassan couldn’t keep up with that pace, gave away almost half of the points in his games and got broken four times out of five chances his rival got.

Denis Shapovalov has successfully started the Orleans Challenger.

A left-handed pitcher found the rhythm from the start and decided the opening game of the duel with love after a backhand crosscourt winner.

The former top 10 player created two break chances in the second game, taking the first with a smash winner for an early lead. Shapovalov cemented the break with a hold at 30 in game three before Hassan reduced the deficit with a service winner in the next.

Denis held at love in the fifth game and did so again two games later, hitting a service winner to open a 5-2 lead. Benjamin served to stay in the set in the eighth game and brought it home at love, extending the match and giving one last chance on the return.

Instead, the Canadian threw down three powerful serves in the ninth game to wrap up the opener in 24 minutes, 6-3. The world number 101 pushed on in the return of the first game of the second set, converting a break chance after his rival’s huge forehand error to take a set and a break lead.

Shapovalov cemented the break with a service winner in game two and held on 15 two games later for a 3-1 lead, moving to the top. Hassan made a backhand error in the fifth game, lost serve on 15 and moved closer to the exit by.

Denis took the sixth game with another powerful serve, opening a 5-1 lead and forcing his rival to serve to stay in the match. The Canadian came back from 0-30 down and created a match point with a forehand return winner. Shapovalov capitalized, sprinting into the second round and celebrating his first Challenger victory since 2017.