A first-round US Open match in the Grandstand on Monday night was about more than tennis.
No. 28 seed Denis Shapovalov moved into the second round when his good friend and opponent, Felix Auger-Aliassime, stopped playing in the match between two Canadian teens because he did not feel well.
Shapovalov was leading 7-5, 5-7, 4-1 when Auger-Aliassime retired. Auger-Aliassime already had been visited by a doctor during a changeover in the third set and said his heart was racing.
The match ended with a heartwarming scene as Shapovalov embraced a teary-eyed Auger-Aliassime at the net. Shapovalov stayed with his friend after the final handshake, putting his arm around Auger-Aliassime until he composed himself in his chair.
Shapovalov is the youngest player in the ATP top 100 at 19, while Auger-Aliassime just turned 18 on Aug. 8, making him youngest player in the ATP top 200. Their combined age made this the youngest U.S. Open men’s match since 2006, when Novak Djokovic, 19, beat Donald Young, 17.
Shapovalov will face Andreas Seppi in the second round after the Italian defeated American Sam Querrey in four sets Monday.
With AP
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