Denis Shapovalov defeats Soonwoo Kwon for 2020 US Open Round 3 berth

WHAT HAPPENED: Denis Shapovalov came through a pressure-packed battle of wits and wills to book his place in the US Open’s third round, 6-7, 6-4, 6-4, 6-2 over South Korea’s Soonwoo Kwon. The battle lines were drawn early as Shapovalov asserted himself with bold shotmaking while Kwon answered with crisp serving, fab footwork and precise counter punching.

The 22-year-old Kwon, ranked 73rd and fresh off his first career Grand Slam win on Monday in New York, confidently navigated a tense opening set and took his chances in the tiebreak, winning the final five points to stun the Canadian. But Shapovalov answered back to bring the pair square after two nip-and-tuck sets.

The third set was just as tight as the previous two and it would be Shapovalov who delivered when it mattered most. The Canadian was broken for 4-2, and it proved to be a wake-up call for him. He rallied to take the final four games and a two-sets-to-one lead.

A run of six straight games took Shapovalov to 2-0 in the fourth set and he was untroubled at the finish. It had taken a while, but he had effectively worn down Kwon. Shapovalov broke twice on four opportunities in the fourth set and served the match out to love, closing his ninth career US Open win in three hours and 41 minutes.

WHAT IT MEANS: Shapovalov's victory sets up a third-round clash with American Taylor Fritz. The matchup has favored the 21-year-old in the past. He’s 2-0 against Fritz, with victories over the World No. 25 at Delray Beach in 2018 and at Davis Cup last November.

Shapovalov should take confidence from the victory as Kwon had him up against the ropes in the third set, but he responded with courageous play, answering the bell with his trademark swagger and aggression. If the No.12-seeded Canadian is going to put up a career-best result this year in New York, he’s already laid the blueprint for his success.

"Definitely an extremely tough match today," Shapovalov said on court after the match. "I was up in the tiebreak in the first set, didn’t go my way, and to bounce back in the second, it was really tough, so I’m really happy to get the win today."

MATCH POINT: The DJ in Louis Armstrong Stadium played Shapovolov's rap release "Night Train," after the match. "I actually appreciate you guys playing it after the match, that was pretty funny," Shapovalov told Armstrong emcee Blair Henley with a laugh.