The ATP action in Dallas picked up on Wednesday, especially with big names like Frances Tiafoe and Denis Shapovalov taking the court. All of the matches for the Round of 16 are set and with the quarterfinals taking shape, it should be a fantastic finish in Dallas. Here is how everything shook up at the Dallas Open on Wednesday.
(2)Frances Tiafoe vs Mackenzie McDonald
This was the most intriguing match of the day, due to both players’ recent success down in Australia. #2 seed Frances Tiafoe took on fellow American Mackenzie McDonald. In the opening set, Tiafoe played as well as you can play, moving McDonald all around the court at will and the experience showed up in this 1st set. Tiafoe won 81% of his first serve points and it just seemed like there was nothing McDonald could do in this set as Tiafoe took it 6-1.
Tiafoe’s recent success was clearly on display in this match. He only faced one break point and that was in the first set. Tiafoe amped up his first serve points won and increased it by 11, winning 92% of his first serve points. McDonald was broken twice in this set, including serving at 3-5 as Tiafoe broke to win the match in straight sets 6-1, 6-3. Tiafoe will play American and #6 seed J.J. Wolf in the quarterfinals.
(3)Denis Shapovalov vs Yibing Wu
Canadian Denis Shapovalov, gifted a wild card in this tournament, took on Chinese player Yibing Wu. Both players made outrageous shots in a highlight reel-worthy set, and the first set culminated in a tiebreak. Despite Shapovalov having six double faults and both players breaking the other. In the breaker, it was all Wu as he took it and the opening set 7-1.
In the first game, Wu jumped on Shapovalov’s serve early as he broke to go up early in the 2nd set. With Wu up two games to love, Shapovalov started to pick up his game a bit and took the lead at 3-2. As Wu did in the opening game of the set, he broke Shapovalov again to retake the lead at 4-3. In what can be described as a shocking result, Yibing Wu defeated Denis Shapovalov in straight sets 7-6(1) 6-4 and advances to the quarterfinals. He awaits the winner of the Jordan Thompson/Adrian Mannarino match to be contested Thursday.
(6)J.J. Wolf vs Radu Albot
#6 seed American J.J. Wolf won in straight sets over Brandon Holt in the previous round. He took on Moldavian player Radu Albot in this round-of-16 matchup. J.J. Wolf came out flying in the early goings of the opening set and grabbed an early break to go up two games to love. Wolf was hitting the ball with such intent in the opening set, cracking his forehand all over the court. The opening set was a battle for Wolf having to save six break points but, in the end, Wolf took the set 6-3.
At 3-2, with Wolf serving, Albot finally got the break he had been battling for the entire match to even things up in set number two. It was a competitive, back-and-forth second set, it culminated in a tiebreak.
With Albot serving at 5-6 in the tiebreaker to stay in the match, he hit a forehand long and J.J. Wolf advanced to the quarterfinals 6-3 7-6(5). Wolf takes on #2 seed Frances Tiafoe in the quarterfinals.
Oscar Otte vs Christopher Eubanks
Christopher Eubanks, looking to continue his upward trend that started down in Australia, took on German player Oscar Otte. A slow start for the young American Eubanks as he was down a break early in the opening set. In the end, that’s all that Otte needed. With a 136mph bomb of a first serve, he was able to take the opening set 6-4. Momentum shifted early in set number two as it was Eubanks who grabbed the early break. Otte broke back and got things back on serve. Serving at 4-5 and 30-40, Otte hit a second serve that was nowhere close and Eubanks broke to take set number two 6-4.
The momentum swung back again, this time Otte grabbed an early break in the penultimate set. He actually broke Eubanks twice in set number 3 along with six aces and zero double faults. In the end, it was Otte’s ability to control the points with his serve and he wins this match in three sets 6-4, 4-6, 6-2. Otte will take on another American later tonight as he battles Marcos Giron.
Emilio Gomez vs (LL)Gabriel Diallo
Denis Shapovalov wasn’t the only Canadian on the court yesterday. Lucky loser Gabriel Diallo took on Ecuadorian player Emilio Gomez. In what was the longest match of the day yesterday, going over 2 and a half hours, both players put on a display. What was a competitive opening set, both players held serve early. In the fourth game of the match, Gomez was able to get the break and go up 3-2. That one break was all Gomez would need as he took the opening set 6-4. In set number two Gomez broke early again, going up 2-1. Gomez would hold onto that lead until he served for the match at 5-4. Diallo broke back and we were tied at five games apiece.
In a back-and-forth 2nd set tiebreaker, Diallo was able to grab an early lead going up 4-2 before the change of ends. Diallo had two set points at 6-3 and 6-4 but Gomez battled back. Ultimately Diallo was able to hang on and win the 2nd set 7-6(5), evening this matchup at one set all.
In the final set, neither player lost serve and we headed to yet another tiebreak. A final set tiebreak that was indicative of how this entire match was. A close, competitive match neither player was going to give an inch. In the end, Emilio Gomez took the third set 7-6(5) and the match 6-4 6-7(5) 7-6(5). Gomez will have a tall task ahead of him as he takes on #4 seed Miomir Kecmanovic on Thursday.
Daniel Altmaier vs (Q)Zachary Svajda
Oscar Otte and Christopher Eubanks weren’t the only German vs American players on the dock today. We also had Daniel Altmaier taking on qualifier Zachary Svajda. The match between Otte and Eubanks was a competitive three-set affair, this one was more straightforward. Altmaier broke in the opening game against the American and continued that trend throughout the opening set. Svajda was broken yet again, serving at 1-3. To go along with his five aces, not to mention saving three break points, Altmaier took the opening set 6-2.
The second set was slightly more competitive from the American’s side of the net. This time it was Svajda who had five aces. However, at two games apiece Altmaier took charge. In the one break point chance Altmaier had in the second set, he jumped on it and took the lead 3-2. Just like the result with Otte and Eubanks, the German prevailed here as well. Daniel Altmaier advanced in straight sets 6-2 6-4. Another American awaits Altmaier as he will battle #5 seed John Isner on Thursday.
Main Photo from Getty.
