Canadian Denis Shapovalov saved six set points to overcome Taylor Fritz 7-6 (7), 6-2 to reach his first quarterfinal since Wimbledon in San Diego on Thursday.
No.4 seed Shapovalov was 4-1 down early on but held serve and battles back to take the set in a tiebreak, that saw Fritz go 6-3 up.
Shapovalov screamed at himself to concentrate, settled and hit a superb volley to save the set, taking 15 of 17 points to earn victory.
“It was happening quick out there,” Shapovalov said.
“Super happy to kind of just, like, dig my way out of it.”
“After I yelled … I released myself and allowed myself to free up and just play really, really good tennis from there on. I felt like I was much more relaxed and free from that moment on.
“And obviously, when you win a set like this, it’s a confidence booster and I was trying to take advantage of that.”
