The US Open is already over for all Swiss after the first round. With Marc-Andrea Hüsler (ATP 85), the third and last candidate failed on Wednesday evening after Stan Wawrinka and Alexander Ritschard. That leaves only Belinda Bencic of the Swiss faction, who prevailed against Andrea Petkovic, in the tournament.
Hüsler, who has been in good shape lately, had indeed started ideally in the match against Canadian favorite Denis Shapovalov (ATP 21). Thanks to two breaks, he confidently secured the first set 6:2.
The Zurich player played his game, seemed calm and solid. Moreover, however, his opponent still lacked all of these qualities. Shapovalov was short on the line and gave both breaks with a double fault.
In the middle of the second sentence, this image has changed. Canada’s favorite came into the game and has been playing better now. Hüsler had a break chance when the score was 4:3, but his opponent pushed him away with new confidence and his typical dynamism.
In the very next game, Shapovalov had break opportunities for the first time. The Swiss initially held back and repelled three of them. In the fourth, however, he made a mistake in the same way as his opponent in the first round: with a double fault, the Zurich player allowed him to break through the serve. A little later, the equalization of the set was a fact.
Shapovalov didn’t give up as a result, but didn’t let Hüsler have a chance in his first match in the US Open main draw. He finally secured the third set confidently 6:4. However, the Zurich native has been persistent. Just when the Canadian loosened up a bit in the fourth round, Hüsler was there, broke to make it 5:3 and equalized a bit later to make it 2:2 after the sets.
In the deciding set, however, Shapovalov made it 6-1 and still fulfilled his role as the favorite after a total of three hours. Hüsler had to say goodbye to the US Open, but was able to do so with his head held high after a tough fight.
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At the US Open – Hüsler battles and loses to Shapovalov in five sets – Sport
Hüsler persists
- Marc-Andrea Hüsler (ATP 85) lost in the 1st round of the US Open against Denis Shapovalov (ATP 21) 6:2, 4:6, 4:6, 6:3, 1:6.
- On his main draw debut at Flushing Meadows, the Zurich man got off to a good start, but then Canada’s favorite turned up the heat.
- After the elimination of Hüsler, no Swiss are represented in the men’s draw, only Belinda Bencic reaches the next round among the women.