Despite four Canadians reaching the quarter-finals, just one advanced to the semifinals and Denis Shapovalov (Richmond Hill, ON) was on a mission to extend his dream week on Saturday by earning a berth in the final at the $50,000 Drummondville National Bank Challenger.
Shapovalov, the first 16-year-old to reach the semifinals of an ATP Challenger event since Stefan Kovlov in 2014, went up against world no. 157 Daniel Evans of Great Britain. After defeating the no. 101 player in the world, Austin Krajicek, earlier this week, the Canadian nearly pulled off another big upset. He won the first set 6-4, but ultimately the more experienced Evans came through a tough three set contest 4-6, 7-6(5), 6-4. The 25-year-old Brit will be trying to win his 16th pro title and third Challenger Circuit crown on Sunday.
Evans will meet his compatriot Edward Corrie in the championship match.Corrie defeated Tim Van Rijthoven of the Netherlands 6-3, 6-4 in Saturday’s second semifinal. The world no. 531 won 85 percent of his first serve points and saved the lone break point he faced in the match. Corrie fell in qualifying last weekend and got into the main draw as a lucky loser after Félix Auger-Aliassime (Montreal, QC) was forced to withdraw because of an abdominal injury. He has enjoyed success during this Quebec tournament swing, reaching the semifinals in Gatineau and the quarter-finals in Sherbrooke before advancing to the final in Drummondville.
Meanwhile, the doubles title went to the American duo of James Cerretani and Max Schnur thanks to a 3-6, 6-3, 11-9 victory over the British team of Evans and Lloyd Glasspool. Canadian Philip Bester and his Australian partner Chris Guccione took home the doubles crown last year during the inaugural edition of the Drummondville National Bank Challenger.
The singles final will be played at 1 p.m. on Sunday at the René-Verrier tennis club.
