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Vasek Pospisil looking on
ATP Tennis Players, Tennis News

WATCH: Vasek Pospisil pulverises racket en route to setting Denis Shapovalov showdown


Vasek Pospisil overcame major frustration to eventually win his first round match and bring up an all-Canadian battle with Denis Shapovalov.

The world number 68 faced American wildcard JJ Wolf at Indian Wells in what turned out to be a tough three-setter.

After splitting the first two sets, Pospisil found himself in trouble down after being broken at 1-1 in the third.

Down 40-30 on the Wolf serve, a soft forehand approach from the American presented a half-chance for Pospisil to attack, but he instead opted for a more neutral slice.

With the Canadian off balance and exposed at the net, Wolf dropped a shot short at Pospisil’s feet, which he then missed before completely destroying his racket in anger.

After obliterating his racket with upwards of six smashes, Pospisil received a code violation for unsportsmanlike conduct from the umpire and a point penalty.

 

 

Pospisil was soon able to gather himself to break back for 3-3 before breaking again to close out a victory.

He will next face ninth seed Denis Shapovalov in their fourth meeting on the ATP tour. Shapovalov leads the head-to-head 2-1, including winning their last meeting at the Qatar Open in March of this year.

Shapovalov is making his third appearance at Indian Wells and will be looking to improve on his previous best result of reaching the fourth round in 2019.

The 22-year-old has not yet reached the fourth round of a Masters 1000 in 2021, despite being seeded at all five he has competed in.

He has lost in his first match at the last two Masters events in Toronto and Cincinnati.

The victor between Pospisil and Shapovalov will face either Italian qualifier Salvatore Caruso or 19th seed Aslan Karatsev in the third round.


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