TC Plus Match of the Day: Popyrin vs. Shapovalov, Stockholm

Alexei Popyrin entered the 2019 season ranked No. 149 in the world, and while his rise up to No. 90 hasn’t been meteoric, it has been consistent. More importantly, the 20-year-old has proven himself on the biggest stages, winning at least one main draw match in every major this year.

After advancing through Stockholm qualifying and defeating qualifier, world No. 155 Oscar Otte, Popyrin will face off against fellow 20-year-old Denis Shapovalov in a Next-Gen battle that should present plenty of power and shot-making. Armed with huge weapons, the 6’5” Popyrin can blast opponents off the court, and should feel right at home on the quick courts in Stockholm, despite playing just five total tour-level matches indoors.

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Popyrin can easily reach 130 mph on his serve, but he doesn’t always go for the outright service winner. He uses his body serve effectively to jam his opponent and keep his first serve percentage high, a play he will use often on the lanky Canadian.

Shapovalov is looking to end his somewhat forgettable 2019 campaign on a high note. He peaked early with a semifinal run in Miami, but has since gone just 14-17 on the year. Shapovalov has all the shots in the book, and all the talent in the world, but too often struggles with his consistency and volatile shot selection.

This first-time meeting could go either way, but expect the more experienced Shapovalov to find a way to win in a tight three-set match.