Nikoloz Basilashvili extended his winning streak to six matches by beating Denis Shapovalov on Tuesday at the Rolex Shanghai Masters. The Georgian knocked out #NextGenATP Canadian Shapovalov 6-2, 6-2 in just 58 minutes for his first victory in three visits to the Qi Zhong Stadium. He next faces fourth-seeded German Alexander Zverev, a contender for the Nitto ATP Finals in November, in the second round.
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Basilashvili denied Shapovalov an opportunity to qualify for the Next Gen ATP Finals, to be held in Milan from 6-10 November, and he improved to a 28-25 record on the season. He also beat Shapovalov 6-2, 6-4 in the Budapest second round on 26 April. Last week, Basilashvili lifted the China Open trophy in Beijing (d. Del Potro), adding to another ATP World Tour 500 crown at the German Tennis Championships 2018 presented by Kampmann in Hamburg (d. L. Mayer).
Australia’s Alex de Minaur, who is currently one spot behind Shapovalov in fourth position in the ATP Race To Milan, booked his spot in the second round with a 6-4, 7-6(4) victory over Vasek Pospisil in one hour and 52 minutes. De Minaur, who also beat the Canadian in August at the Citi Open in Washington, D.C., now faces Benoit Paire of France.
Elsewhere, last year’s inaugural Next Gen ATP Finals champion, Hyeon Chung, defeated Polish qualifier Hubert Hurkacz 6-4, 2-6, 6-1 in one hour and 39 minutes and meets Marco Cecchinato, the No. 16 seed from Italy, in the second round.
Another titlist last week, Russia’s Daniil Medvedev, scraped past wild card Ze Zhang 3-6, 7-6(7), 6-4 over two hours and 26 minutes for his sixth straight main draw victory. Medvedev won two matches in qualifying en route to the Rakuten Japan Open Tennis Championships 2018 (d. Nishikori) last week. He will now meet top-seeded Swiss Roger Federer, the 2014 and 2017 champion.
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