2021 Qatar Open Quarter-Final – Taylor Fritz vs Denis Shapovalov Preview & Prediction
THE FACTS
Where is Taylor Fritz vs Denis Shapovalov taking place? Khalifa International Tennis and Squash Complex, Doha, Qatar
When is Taylor Fritz vs Denis Shapovalov on and what time does it start? Thursday 11th March, 2021 – Not before 11:30 (UK)
Where can I get tickets for Taylor Fritz vs Denis Shapovalov? Click here for the latest ticket information
What channel is Taylor Fritz vs Denis Shapovalov on? This match will not be televised live in the UK
Where can I stream Taylor Fritz vs Denis Shapovalov in the UK? Subscribers of Amazon Prime may be able to stream the match live via Prime Video while Tennis TV subscribers can also stream the match live
THE PREDICTION
Fourth-seed Denis Shapovalov was comfortable in a straight-sets victory over fellow Canadian Vasek Pospisil in the round of 16 of the Qatar Open on Wednesday, just under a month since his defeat by another Canadian, Felix Auger-Aliassime, at the Australian Open. The world number 11 will face Taylor Fritz for a fourth time in their young careers having never lost to the American, with a five-set showdown at last year’s US Open still fresh in the memory. World number 33 Fritz was part of a lengthy tussle with Montpellier Open winner David Goffin in the round of 16, needing a deciding set tiebreak to reach 11-9 before he could squeeze past the Belgian. After a long spell of frustration on tour after the resumption of the season last summer, Fritz has started 2021 very well indeed and came as close as anyone has in some time to beating Novak Djokovic in a five-set marathon match at last month’s Australian Open. Back near his best form, Fritz will be up for this quarter-final in a big way and should provide a sterner test than previous encounters. A winner is hard to side with here, despite the one-way head-to-head record. It should be Shapovalov but it seems a wiser move to opt for a deciding set in this one considering Fritz is on the up.
