Denis Shapovalov is a player that always hovers around Top 20 of the ATP Rankings and is always a threat to the best players of the game.
The young Canadian is the only player to reach US Open round three every time in the last 6 years and so when it matters, his consistency is present. However, Denis Shapovalov isn't so good in winning ATP titles as his only triumph came three years ago in Stockholm.
Despite winning 24 matches this season and 30 in 2021, Shapovalov couldn't win any title and he had his chance after beating Jenson Brooksby in the semifinals of the 2022 Korea Open in Seoul.
“I am very happy with my performance today,” Shapovalov said after reaching the final. “Jenson is a super tricky opponent and I am just happy to win today and be in the finals.”
After Casper Ruud lost in the quarterfinals, the Canadian had a unique chance to finally win another ATP title as he remained the highest-ranked player in the draw. However, in the final, he faced the man that beat world number 2, Yoshihito Nishioka.
In the first set, both players had three break points in the first nine games, but none of them could use the chance and it seemed that fans in Seoul will witness a tie-break. Yet, Nishioka eventually managed to get a break in the tenth game and win the first set 6-4.
In the second set, it was Shapovalov who broke first and wanted to level the score after two sets. But his opponent got the break back and this time tie-break had to decided the set.
After trading mini-breaks, Nishioka got the decisive advantage and used his second championship point to win his second ATP career title after beating Shapovalov 6-4, 7-6(5). On Monday, he will jump to the 41st place in the ATP Rankings, his career-high.
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