Kevin Anderson, the thirty-two-year-old South African and 2017 US Open finalist, had all he could handle yesterday in Armstrong stadium as he battled youth, rain and a passionate and partisan crowd. Denis Shapovalov, the 19-year-old NextGen superstar from Canada, was hoping to match and surpass his 4th round appearance at last year’s Open.

Anderson, the #5 seed, knew he would be tested by the youngster, seeded 28th after his remarkable breakthrough last summer at the Rogers Cup where he defeated two former US Open champions, Juan Martin del Potro and Rafa Nadal en route to the semifinals. This was their first meeting and Anderson served to open the match.

From the start, Anderson appeared a bit nervous and tentative as if he could no longer shoulder the weight of being a finalist last year. Shapovalov, conversely, had nothing to lose and it showed as he struck his first of many incredible inside-out forehand winners in his first game.

Level at 1-1, Anderson came under pressure as he threw in his first double fault and netted a backhand to go down break point. Shapovalov converted when Anderson’s forehand sailed long.  

While Anderson is known for his formidable serve, Shapovalov, who plays left-handed, is not afraid to go big even on second serve points. Serving with a break at 2-1, Shapovalov held to love with exceptional serving and well-struck groundstrokes.

Both held serve easily thru the next five games as Shapovalov, incredulously, struck more aces than Anderson making it extremely difficult for him to earn break points. The Canadian, serving for the set at 5-4, opened with a monstrous serve but on the next point, threw in a double fault. Following a few missed returns, he secured the set 6-4.

It appeared as if the teenager might run away with the second set too as Anderson had not yet found his rhythm. Shapovalov continued to unload on both the forehand and backhand going inside-out, cross-court and down the line with ease. His one-handed backhand is a thing of beauty and is much more reliable than the forehand which he occasionally butchers given the exaggerated back-swing.  

Serving at 1-1 in the second, Anderson held to love for the first time in the match. Shapovalov held for 2-2 with an ace down the middle despite throwing in a double fault and being passed at the net. Neither player was reluctant to move forward and both ended the match winning well over 50% of their net points.

Shapovalov was in danger of losing serve in the sixth game as Anderson struck a couple of fantastic backhand volley winners and a forehand pass to earn break point. With incredible defense, Anderson drew the error and broke to take a 4-2 lead in the second set.

At 1:18pm, raindrops were falling on my head! Seemingly faster then a 90 second change over, the roof in the new Louis Armstrong stadium was closed for the first time and fans eagerly recorded the spectacle. Although now technically an indoor match, the stadium is not entirely enclosed so it remained quite windy and chilly for the duration of the match. Despite the interruption in play, Anderson maintained his composure and once again held to love to go up 5-2.

Serving to stay in the second set, Shapovalov opened with a brilliant forehand down the line winner only to be matched on the next point by Anderson’s exquisite slice backhand drop shot winner.

Although Shapovalov threw in another double fault, he followed it with an ace, a cross-court forehand volley winner and an insane, well-disguised cross-court forehand drop shot on successive points to hold for 3-5. Anderson served for the second set and held to 15 when Shapovalov netted a backhand volley.

Level at a set apiece, Shapovalov served first in the third and held to 15 despite throwing in a double fault on the first point. Anderson also held to 15 but opened his first service game with an ace down the middle.

The teenager, going for broke off the ground, recognized the need to mix it up and began coming in which for the most part, paid off.

Both held easily thru six games but Shapovalov, serving with new balls, faced break point as the unforced errors off the forehand began to multiply. Anderson converted when Shapovalov shanked another forehand and as they approached their chairs for the change-over, the Canadian threw his racquet in disgust.

Anderson, sensing Shapovalov’s frustration, wasted no time consolidating the break. Although he missed several first serves, it was clear he was in the zone and determined to close out the third set.

Shapovalov once again served to stay in the set but it did not look promising when he opened with a double fault. The teenager continued to impress with his ability to regroup as he struck two huge serves up the tee on consecutive points and a colossal forehand down the line winner to hold and force Anderson to serve for the set.

The South African continued to serve big, extracting weak returns from his opponent. Anderson clinched the third set 6-4 when Shapovalov’s return found the net.  

Shapovalov served first in the fourth and held to 15 following well-placed serves and a sweet, cross-court forehand drop shot winner. The Canadian was pumped up and clearly believed he had the physical and mental stamina to win in five sets.

Both held easily thru nine games as they continued to serve big and unleash off the ground, using the slice and topspin backhand to great effect.

Anderson, serving at 4-5, was in danger of losing the set as he quickly went down 0-30 following an outstanding backhand down the line from Shapovalov. The teenager was relentless as he executed a terrific lob followed by a crisp, backhand volley winner to reach double break and set points. The noise in Armstrong stadium was deafening as the crowd continued to roar as they encouraged the young phenom to break and take it to a fifth set.

It was unclear whether the veteran would muster the resolve to conquer not only his opponent, but the boisterous crowd. Shapovalov winced as both set points evaporated with two missed returns. Now level at deuce, Shapovalov unloaded on the return and earned his third set point. The crowd got what they had hoped for - a fifth and deciding set as Anderson shanked a forehand to drop serve and the set 4-6.

It was not an auspicious start for the teenager as he opened the fifth with two consecutive double faults. He continued to confound expectations as he recovered and managed to hold serve.

Anderson seemed to be on cruise control as he hit two aces and held at love for 1-2. Even though he netted more than a handful of backhands throughout the course of the match, Anderson went for the jugular and broke Shapovalov to take the early lead.  

The Canadian refused to yield as he created his own break point opportunities in the following game. Each return winner was succeeded by an equally powerful serve as they went to deuce three times. Despite the onslaught, Anderson held as Shapovalov continued to miss with the forehand.

The fans were all-in as Shapovalov earned a slew of break points in Anderson’s next service game the first, following a sharp backhand volley winner. Anderson was issued a code violation as he exceeded the time allotted to strike a first serve. The crowd began to jeer as this seemed unjust given their continued outbursts as Anderson began to serve not to mention it was issued in the fifth set.

Although he earned three break points, Shapovalov was unable to convert and Anderson maintained the lead in the fifth. Frustrated and rattled as he stepped up to serve, Shapovalov competed valiantly and held with an ace for 3-4.

Anderson maintained his poise and weathered the storm to hold for 5-3. Now just four points from the fourth round, Anderson had triple match point on Shapovolov’s serve as the teenager continued to miss-hit the forehand.

The crowd held their breath and much to their amazement and unbridled joy, watched as the teenager saved four match points hitting three aces and a monstrous cross-court backhand volley winner to put the pressure back on his opponent.

Serving for the match at 5-4, Anderson did what he is renowned for; three consecutive, unreturnable serves including his eleventh ace to earn triple match point. This enthralling and highly competitive third round match ended when Shapovalov shanked the return.

After 3 ¼ hours, two of which were played under the roof, Kevin Anderson finished with 31 winners, 32 unforced and one double fault.

Shapovalov hit more aces and almost double the winners but struck 42 unforced errors and eight double faults. In the end, experience, in all its incarnations, separated these worthy opponents.

Next up for Anderson, another talented youngster, Dominic Thiem. The #9 seed from Austria has defeated the South African once in seven meetings, this past spring, their first and only match on clay.  Anderson won all six hardcourt matches, the last going the distance in DC last year. This clearly bodes well for a tantalizing fourth round encounter.

(Photo Source: Al Bello/Getty Images North America)