US Open ATP Match of the Day: Denis Shapovalov vs. David Goffin

It’s worth nothing that David Goffin was a fairly sizable underdog in his third-round match against Filip Krajinovic. The Belgian must have heard, because his performance surely made both bettors and oddsmakers feel sheepish. He tuned the talented Serbian, 6-1, 7-6 (5), 6-4, in just over two hours— a brief encounter for a best-of-five-set match.

You always know what you’re going to get with Goffin. He’s one of those players that tracks the ball like he’s magnetized to it, and what he lacks in firepower, he more than makes up for in speed and consistency. Perhaps his greatest skill is his ability to absorb and redirect pace, something his Sunday opponent will surely give him plenty of.

US OPEN

Denis Shapovalov should be packing his bags, but thanks to a self-admitted “absolute choke” from Taylor Fritz, he lives to fight another day. The two have met once before, with Goffin edging the Canadian in two tiebreak sets.

If Shapovalov can capitalize on his sizeable advantage in the service department, he has a very real chance to advance to his first ever Grand Slam quarterfinal. Goffin can trade groundstrokes with anyone, but his lack of pace on serve allows opponents to venture deep into his service games too frequently.

This match will likely be Shapovalov’s to win or lose, and after his Houdini like five-set win over Taylor Fritz, he should be swinging freely. In the end, expect the 21-year-old to capitalize on his best chance yet to make a major quarterfinal.

The Pick: Denis Shapovalov