In-form Shapovalov downs Czech veteran Berdych 1-6, 6-3, 7-6(5) at Italian Open

ROME — Denis Shapovalov continued his impressive run of matches on clay Tuesday with a 1-6, 6-3, 7-6 (5) win over Czech veteran Tomas Berdych in first-round action at the Italian Open.

The teenager from Richmond Hill, Ont., won on his first match point opportunity when Berdych, who was serving, hit into the net to end a rally.

It capped a nervy end of the match for Shapovalov, who led the tiebreak 4-0 before Berdych came back to tie it 5-5.

Shapovalov entered the Masters 1000 series tournament with a career-high ATP ranking of 29 following a run to the semifinals at last week’s Madrid Open.