Seven players made a winning start at the ATP 500 Swiss Indoors Basel event on Tuesday. Denis Shapovalov, Stefanos Tsitsipas, Holger Rune and Dominic Stricker were among them, and let us dive into how they triumphed at the prestigious indoor tournament.
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Shapovalov downs Shang in style
Denis Shapovalov earned a wild card in Basel and used it with both hands. The Canadian delivered his 20th victory of the season with a rock-solid performance against Juncheng Shang, ousting the young Chinese 6-1, 6-4 in 68 minutes. Denis served at 51%, and no one noticed that. Shapovalov fired 11 aces and dropped 14 points in nine service games, defending the only break point and keeping the pressure on the other side. A teenager could not follow those numbers, especially in the opener. Shang dropped 44% of the points in his games and suffered three breaks, ending his campaign in the opening round.
Denis tamed his strokes efficiently and left the opponent far behind in the shortest range up to four strokes, earning the win in that segment. The Canadian landed an ace in the first game of the encounter for a hold at love. He made a push on the return in the fourth game and welcomed the Chinese's forehand error for an early break. Shapovalov grabbed another in game six to extend the gap and closed the opening set with a fie hold at 5-1. The lower-ranked player saved the only break point at 1-2 in the second set and stepped in on the return in games seven and nine. Juncheng denied break points at 3-3 before suffering a break two games later after netting a forehand. Denis served for the victory at 5-4 and held after a deuce with a service winner, booking a place in the second round.
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Stricker shines at home
Dominic Stricker is another player with a wild card who is through into the last 16. The home player defeated Tallon Griekspoor 6-4, 6-4 in 66 minutes for a much-needed win after dropping out from the top-250. Dominic fired 14 aces and gave away 12 points in ten service games, defending both break points and mounting the pressure on the other side. Griekspoor struggled behind the second serve and got broken two times from four chances offered to his opponent. Dominic attacked and outplayed Tallon in the shortest range up to four stokes en route to a solid victory. The Swiss provided five comfortable holds in the opener and grabbed an early break. The Dutch player survived in games five and seven of the second set before losing serve at 4-4. Stricker served for the win in game ten and denied the only two break points, sealing the deal with a backhand crosscourt winner.
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Tsitsipas survives in overtime
The 3rd seed Stefanos Tsitsipas needs a good result in Basel and Paris to keep his chances of qualifying for the ATP Finals alive. The Greek barely survived the first obstacle in Basel, toppling Francisco Cerundolo 6-3, 6-7, 7-6 in two hours and 32 minutes. Stefanos led 6-3, 4-2 before Francisco launched his comeback, stealing the second set and earning a chance to emerge at the top. Tsitsipas struggled on serve in the second part of the decider, losing serve in the 11th game but pulling it back a few minutes later when Cerundolo served for the triumph. The better-ranked player clinched a tie break 7-4 to avoid an early setback. The 3rd seed claimed nine points more, defending five of seven break points and securing three return games from 12 opportunities.
Stefanos clinched the opener in half an hour, providing five comfortable holds and earning an early break for 6-3. He broke early in the second set and missed more chances to grab another return game and sail over the top. Instead, Cerundolo pulled the break back in game eight and claimed the tie break 7-4 to force a decider. They served well in the opening six games, and the Argentine created break chances in three consecutive games. He converted the last in the 11th game and served for the win. Tsitsipas kept his composure and broke back, reaching a tie break and taking it 7-4 to cross the finish line first.
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Rune edges Jarry, Shelton advances
World no. 14 Holger Rune is another player who needs wins in the closing stages of the season. The young Dane defeated Nicolas Jarry 6-4, 7-6 in an hour and 26 minutes after a solid performance. They dropped only nine points behind the first serve combined, and Rune made the difference behind the second. He never faced a break point and stole the rival's serve once in the opener from two opportunities in the first game of the match. Jarry played a careless service game and had no chance to pull the break back, allowing Holger to take the first set 6-4. Both players served well in the second set, and the 21-year-old sealed the deal in the tie break.
The 6th seed Ben Shelton ousted Tomas Martin Etcheverry 6-3, 6-4 in an hour and 13 minutes. The American served at 73% and kept the first and second serve safe. He seized both break points to build the advantage and move over the top in straight sets.
