Denis Shapovalov set to take on defending champion Novak Djokovic in his first grand slam semi-final after overcoming Karen Khachanov in an epic five-set victory
- Denis Shapovalov has shown he is ready to challenge for the Wimbledon title
- He has secured his first grand slam semi-final with a five-set win over Khachanov
- He recorded an epic 6-4 3-6 5-7 6-1 6-4 quarter-final victory over the Russian
- Shapovalov will now face defending champion Djokovic in the last four on Friday
Denis Shapovalov showed he is ready to challenge for the Wimbledon title by booking his first grand slam semi-final with a five-set win over Karen Khachanov.
The Canadian won the boys’ title in 2016 and is giving himself the best chance of replicating that in the men’s draw with an epic 6-4 3-6 5-7 6-1 6-4 quarter-final victory over the Russian.
His biggest test is now to come as he faces world number one and defending champion Djokovic in the last four on Friday.
Denis Shapovalov has shown he is ready to challenge for the Wimbledon title this summer
He has secured his first grand slam semi-final with a five-set win over Karen Khachanov
Shapovalov shared his delighted at progressing through to the next round, saying: ‘Thank you guys, there were so many times when I thought Karen was going to run away from it so thank you guys for keeping me going, thank you so much.
He went to explain how he was feeling during the game by saing: ‘It was definitely super super tough.
Shapovalov recorded an epic 6-4 3-6 5-7 6-1 6-4 quarter-final victory over the Russian (above)
Shapovalov will now face defending champion Novak Djokovic in the last four on Friday
‘I was in a similar position in the US Open quarter-final and I started the fifth set slow, so I just told myself to play every point in the fifth set as hard as I can.’
When asking about playing Djokovic in the semi-final, he said: : ‘He’s the best player in the world, but I think anything is possible, and when you look at the scoreboard on Friday its going to be zero-zero.
‘It’s a tennis match, it can go either way. I have full belief in me and my team. Anything is possible.’