Denis Shapovalov

Denis Shapovalov is back on the winning track.

Coming off a stunning lost to unheralded teenager Diego Dedura-Palomero when the Canadian was battling a virus last week in Germany, Shapovalov bounced back on Saturday with a 6-1, 6-4 win over Japan’s Kei Nishikori in the second round of the Madrid Open.

The 29th-seeded Shapovalov, who got a bye in the first round, like all seeds, next faces a tougher test as he clashes with No. 10 seed Alex de Minaur of Australia at the clay-court event.

The Australian is 4-0 lifetime against Shapovalov.

Meanwhile, fellow Canadian Gabriel Diallo also reached the third round of Madrid with a 7-5, 4-6, 6-4 win over Poland’s Kamil Majchrzak.

Diallo, who got a main-draw spot as a lucky loser following a qualifying defeat, next faces British veteran Cameron Norrie.

It will be the first career match between the two players.

Meanwhile, Ottawa’s Gabriela Dabrowski and partner Erin Routliffe of New Zealand were upset in the women’s doubles tournament.

Dabrowski and Routliffe were the top seed in the women’s doubles tournament but lost to Romania’s Sorana Cirstea and Anna Kalinskaya, who is from Russia, 6-3, 4-6, 10-7.

Routliffe holds Canadian citizenship but represents New Zealand, where she was born. 

— With files from the Canadian Press