If there's one thing that can definitively said about the 19-year-old Denis Shapovalov through the early portions of his career, it's that he has a flare for the dramatics, and doesn't seem to shy away from the big moment.
Add his second-round match Tuesday at the Madrid Open to that case file, with Shapovalov gutting out an upset, three-set victory over Frenchman Benoit Paire (7-5 (5), 4-6, 6-4).
It was a full display of all the promise Shapovalov has shown in his year-plus on the ATP tour, an exhibition of his talents as a shot-maker and a player unafraid to stay within his strengths. He hit 38 winners in the three sets against Paire, including this sharp backhand shot to put away Paire in the first-set tiebreak.
.@denis_shapo unleashes a ripper backhand to take the first set in a tiebreak 7-6(5).
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) May 8, 2018
Second set: https://t.co/3vvQfoJmv9 #MMOPEN pic.twitter.com/FhXfsmonmf
What a match! 🙌 Denis Shapovalov wins an absolute thriller against Benoit Paire, taking it 7-6(5), 4-6, 6-4.@denis_shapo struck 38(!!) winners. How’s that for #CanadianSwagger? pic.twitter.com/uK7Qs1J3Em
— Tennis Canada (@TennisCanada) May 8, 2018
That set almost got away from Shapovalov though, after he was broken at 4-4 to allow Paire to go back and serve out the set. But Shapovalov produced a crucial break of his own, and then managed to play his way into and through the tiebreak to grab an early lead.
Paire battled back to take the second off Shapovalov though, setting up a decisive third set to determine which player would move on to the Round of 16. But Shapovalov managed to re-group in that set, finally putting away the 29-year-old.
"He’s a really talented player so it’s really tough to play against him," Shapovalov said after the match, according to Metro UK. "We had some really crazy points and played some really fun tennis.
"Benoit was hitting the most ridiculous shots, I was wowed so many times. I was just enjoying it, it was crazy. That’s the kind of player he is. It’s a lot of fun for me to be here."
With the victory, Shapovalov will see his ATP ranking jump to at least 38, establishing a new career best.
Milos Raonic defeats Grigor Dimitrov, setting up Shapo showdown
In match that played out similar to Shapovalov's, Milos Raonic needed three sets to defeat Grigor Dimitrov (7-5, 3-6, 6-3) in his second round matchup.
Raonic used his power game to hold serve in the first set, which began with each competitor winning on serve until the match sat tied at 5-5.
It was there Raonic finally produced a break though, and then consolidated to serve out the set and win, 7-5.
In the second, Raonic wasn't as dominant on serve, and he was broken early, with Dimitrov producing a break and then consolidating to take a 5-2 lead. Raonic managed to hold and push Dimitrov on his serve to make things interesting, but he eventually took the set, 6-3.
That set up a third and decisive set, which turned when a defensive return by Raonic helped him to break and take a 5-3 lead.
This point had it all from @milosraonic!#MMOPEN pic.twitter.com/OFhbZW9ZVI
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) May 8, 2018
With a chance to serve out the match, Raonic did just that, securing a spot in the Round of 16 and setting up an all-Canadian matchup with Shapovalov, the first time the countryman have faced off.
That match will take place Thursday morning, with a spot in the quarterfinal on the line.