#NextGenATP Rule The Day In Delray

#NextGenATP Canadian Denis Shapovalov doesn't want to leave the Delray Beach Open and its hundreds of Canadian tennis fans just yet.

The 18-year-old left-hander advanced to his first quarter-final of the season on Thursday, beating 21-year-old Jared Donaldson 6-7(6), 6-4, 6-4 in two hours and 25 minutes.

[ALSO LIKE]

Shapovalov, the youngest player in the draw, has toughed his way through two tricky matches in Delray Beach. The Canadian prevailed past the big-serving Ivo Karlovic in his opener.

“I definitely picked up my serve in the second and third set... It was a really even match. We were both playing extremely well,” Shapovalov said. “I've been in this position before. Last year I was coming up with a lot of 'W's in late third sets but it's definitely a big confidence booster for me. I'm starting to get a little bit of momentum, getting a lot of matches under my belt, so I'm happy.”

Shapovalov will next meet #NextGenATP Taylor Fritz of the U.S., who prevailed over Russian veteran Mikhail Youzhny 6-1, 4-6, 6-3. Fritz hit 13 aces and won 77 per cent of his first-serve points.