Sinner edges thriller to reach quarters
Jannik Sinner survived mounting pressure from Roberto Bautista Agut to edge a three-set thriller 6-4, 3-6, 7-5 and book his place in the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships quarter-finals.
Sinner, seeded 16th, won a closely-fought first set when he claimed the only break in the ninth game before serving out the opener. Such a deficit was never going to faze a player like Bautista Agut and the 2018 champion earned parity after returning the favour - breaking Sinner in the penultimate game of the second set before himself serving out to level.
The momentum was now firmly with the Spanish fourth seed and he looked the most likely to take charge in the deciding set. However, it was the 19-year-old Italian who got himself in front when he broke for a 4-2 lead. Bautista Agut responded immediately though and after holding, it was all square again at 4-4.
Following holds of serve, Bautista Agut was serving to stay in the match and the world No 11 wobbled at the worst possible time. Handing Sinner two match points at 15-40, the Italian converted the first with a deep winner in the corner to seal a memorable and entertaining victory in two hours and 24 minutes.
Sinner will face Russia's Aslan Karatsev of Russia in the quarter-finals after the Australian Open semi-finalist defeated Lorenzo Sonego 3-6, 6-3, 6-4.
Shapovalov marches on
Denis Shapovalov demonstrated his title credentials after marching into the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships quarter-finals with a 6-4, 6-3 win over 13th seed Hubert Hurkacz on Wednesday.
After thrashing Jan-Lennard Struff, who beat Shapovalov in their previous four meetings, in the second round the Canadian faced another tough challenge in the Round of 16 in the first match on Centre Court.
Hurkacz had won their two other matches but a solid serving display and a predatory ability to convert rare break point chances ensured Shapovalov his first win over the Pole and a place in the last eight.
The third seed got his initial breakthrough in the third game and that was all he needed to eventually close out the first set after both players continued to hold serve.
The second set was a near repeat of the first as Shapovalov broke in the third game and the 21-year-old broke again, to love, with Hurkacz serving to stay in the match at 3-5.
In a match that looked set to be a tricky test, Shapovalov claimed a one-sided win in just 76 minutes. The world No 12 will take on France's Jeremy Chardy after his 6-7, 6-4, 6-4 win over Russian eighth seed Karen Khachanov.
Order of play
Centre Court - starting at 2pm
[3] Denis Shapovalov (CAN) bt [13] Hubert Hurkacz (POL) 6-4, 6-3
[16] Jannik Sinner (ITA) bt [4] Roberto Bautista Agut (ESP) 6-4, 3-6, 7-5
Not before 7pm
Aljaz Bedene (SLO) vs Kei Nishikori (JPN)
[15] Taylor Fritz (USA) vs [2] Andrey Rublev (RUS)
Court 1 - starting at 2pm
Jeremy Chardy (FRA) bt [8] Karen Khachanov (RUS) 6-7, 6-4, 6-4
[WC] Aslan Karatsev (RUS) bt [17] Lorenzo Sonego (ITA) 3-6, 6-3, 6-4
Marton Fucsovics (HUN) vs [11] Dusan Lajovic (SRB)
[Q] Lloyd Harris vs [14] Filip Krajinovic (SRB)
