Is Denis Shapovalov making a triumphant return?
The Canadian star appears to be having a momentous week at the Dallas Open.
Ranked No. 54 in the world, Shapovalov achieved a remarkable victory over No. 6 seed Tomas Machac from Czechia with a score of 7-6 (5), 6-0 during the quarterfinals on Friday night.
This exhilarating win followed an impressive upset against the tournament’s top seed and world No. 4, Taylor Fritz from the U.S.
“I can’t believe how well I’m playing right now,” Shapovalov expressed to reporters following his quarterfinal triumph. “I’m really excited to see my game returning and I feel like my physical condition is improving too.”
Hailing from Richmond Hill, Ontario, Shapovalov is poised to challenge yet another seeded opponent on Saturday when he faces No. 3 seed Tommy Paul. Paul, ranked ninth globally, is also the reigning champion of this event.
After recovering from an early setback, Shapovalov managed to clinch the first set in a tense tiebreak before dominating the second set to seal the match.
Once ranked as high as No. 10 in 2020, Shapovalov has faced challenges in recent years due to a series of injuries. However, he began turning things around late last year by clinching the title at the Serbia Open in November.
The 25-year-old athlete had a rough start to the 2025 season, standing at 2-3 before finding his groove and securing three consecutive victories at the ATP Tour 500 indoor hard-court event in Dallas this week.
“It’s been an incredibly tough journey,” Shapovalov admitted. “There were many moments where I questioned if I’d even return to the court at all. It’s been filled with challenging days.”
Shapovalov’s ultimate aspiration is to reclaim his spot in the top 10.
In their previous encounters, Paul holds a slight edge with a 2-1 record against Shapovalov, though the Canadian emerged victorious in their last clash in 2022 on Cincinnati’s outdoor hard courts. Notably, all three matches have been final set thrillers.
Meanwhile, the other semifinal will see unseeded Jaume Munar of Spain take on Norway’s No. 2 seed, Casper Ruud.
