Israeli-born Shapovalov advances to Wimbledon semi-final, will play Djokovic

By AFP and ToI Staff 7 July 2021, 6:52 pm

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Canada's Denis Shapovalov celebrates after defeating Spain's Roberto Bautista Agut during the men's singles fourth round match on day seven of the Wimbledon Tennis Championships in London, July 5, 2021. (AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali)

Israeli-born Denis Shapovalov (12th in the world) has qualified at Wimbledon for his first semi-final of a Grand Slam tournament by eliminating Russian Karen Khachanov (29) 6-4, 3-6, 5-7, 6-1, 6-4.

The 22-year-old Canadian will face Novak Djokovic (world no. 1 and two-time defending champion) on Friday in an attempt to reach the final.

Shapovalov’s parents were born in Russia and emigrated to Israel at the collapse of the Soviet Union, before moving to Canada when he was still a baby. His mother, a former Russian national tennis team player, is Jewish, and his father is a Russian Eastern Orthodox Christian.