Rogers Cup: Rafael Nadal In Shock Defeat; Roger Federer Advances To Quarter-Finals

World No.2 Rafael Nadal fell to a shock defeat by 18-year-old Canadian Denis Shapovalov at the ongoing Rogers Cup in Montreal.

The 18-year-old from Richmond Hill, Ont. shocked the crowd that roared and the tennis world with his 3-6, 6-4, 7-6 (6-4) victory over top-seeded Nadal in the third round of the Rogers Cup on Thursday night at a sold out Uniprix Stadium.

The Canadian youngster dropped to the ground and covered his face in joy and surprise as the cheers reached deafening levels after the match point fell, completing his comeback from a 3-0 deficit in the third-set tiebreaker.

“It’s what I dreamed of all my life growing up, playing guys like Rafa (Nadal), Roger (Federer), Andy (Murray),” said Shapovalov. “You know, my dream came true today.”

With the shock win the Wildcard Shapovalov become the youngest player to reach a Masters 1000 quarter-final and is the youngest to beat a player ranked in the top two in the world since Nadal beat Federer in 2004 in Miami.

Nadal’s loss means Andy Murray remains world number one, but only until next week’s Cincinnati Masters, where Nadal or Roger Federer will replace him.

Meanwhile, ATP ranked world No. 3 Roger Federer also progressed to the last eight, with victory over David Ferrer.

The 36-year-old Swiss came from a set behind to beat the Spaniard 4-6 6-4 6-2 and next faces Roberto Bautista Agut, also of Spain, who defeated Frenchman Gael Monfils 4-6 7-6 (7-5) 7-6 (6-2).

World number 143 Shapovalov, the 2016 Wimbledon junior champion, plays 29-year-old Frenchman Adrian Mannarino.

In the other quarter-finals, Germany’s Alexander Zverev, who beat Australian Nick Kyrgios 6-4 6-3, will play South African Kevin Anderson, who saw off American Sam Querrey 6-4 6-1 in the last 16.

Argentina’s Diego Schwartzman will face Robin Haase of the Netherlands. Haase beat Bulgaria’s Grigor Dimitrov 7-6 (6-3) 4-6 6-1, while Schwartzman defeated American Jared Donaldson 0-6 7-5 7-5.