TennisSection previews the 2022 Dubai Open as Denis Shapovalov takes on Ricardas Berankis in the quarterfinal on Thursday, February 24th, 2022.
Denis Shapovalov looks to round off his Middle Eastern swing in the best possible way. A run to the quarterfinals of the Dubai Open is a positive return considering his dismal showing in Doha this past week. Can he end the fairytale run of Lithuanian qualifier Ricardas Berankis?
Denis Shapovalov needed 85 minutes, which is about enough time for a two-course meal, to seal his place in the quarterfinals of the Dubai Open. The Canadian left-hander saw off Japan’s Taro Daniel 6-4 6-3 in a fine display of power tennis. The first set stayed on serve until the seventh game when Shapovalov broke serve after a lengthy game that featured five deuces. He remained watchful of Daniel from that moment on, saving a break point early on in the second set on his serve before going on to dominate the remaining portion of the match.
Ricardas Berankis, meanwhile, picked up his fourth straight win of the week after defeating Australian luck loser Alexei Popyrin in straight sets. Berankis, who successfully navigated his way into the main draw of the Dubai Open with a pair of qualifying wins , held off two big servers in Jan-Lennard Struff and Alexei Popyrin to reach this far.
Denis Shapovalov leads Ricardas Berankis 2-1 in their head-to-head. But the two players will meet for the first time since 2019. Two of their three matches in the series have been played on hard courts, so advantage should be in Shapovalov’s favor. The draw has opened up nicely for Berankis after a couple of high-profile withdrawals earlier in the tournament. I don’t think the Lithuanian will be fazed by Shapovalov’s power having withstood a barrage of aces from the likes of Struff and Popyrin. But the Canadian has a bigger toolbox that he can utilize to end this fairytale run.
Free Tennis Pick and Prediction: Denis Shapovalov to win in straight sets.
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