Support in the tennis hall was great from the start. The Swede's support became much clearer when Denis Shapovalov put his finger behind his ear and wanted the audience's cheers after a shot in the second set
Instead, the audience responded with boos.
Even worse was the reaction for Shapovalov after he wanted to remove a person from the stands.
The answer?
"Ymer, Ymer, Ymer" was chanted in the hall.
I've seen Denis a few times and it can happen when he plays that he gets angry with the audience. I was prepared for it to heat up, says Elias Ymer.
Shapovalov:
It wasn't meant to be nasty, but you seem to get offended by everything I do. Even when I take medical help, you boo, says the Canadian in the victory interview.
Wanted a bigger audience
After the victory in the eighth final, 29-year-old Ymer was clear. He hoped for a lot of audience when it was time for quarterfinals in Nordic Open.
The Swede got what he wanted.
Tennis-hungry people skipped other Friday fun and made their way to the Royal Tennis Hall. They gathered around the center court and created – together with the murmur from the bar and restaurant section – a better atmosphere than last time, which made Ymer step out onto the court with a smile on his lips.
Incredible, fantastic. I'm so grateful, he says.
The atmosphere was very good.
"Lost serve"
He offered brilliant play in the eighth final – and continued in the same vein in the quarterfinals.
The Swede, ranked 243 in the world, pressured 26-year-old Shapovalov, 23rd in the world, and kept pace until 4–4 – but then lost two straight games and lost the first set 4–6.
In the second, he kept the game together better, took it to a tiebreak and won.
Third?
It's important to get a good start in the third set and when I fell behind, it got tough. Especially against such a guy, when it's going well for him. When I lost my serve… that's when it went wrong.
Despite Denis Shapovalov's angry outbursts, he didn't seem to be disturbed by the support for the home hope and secured semifinal play against Norwegian Casper Ruud after 2–1 in sets.
For Elias Ymer, however, it's game over.
Facts: Semifinals in Nordic Open
TT
Holger Rune, Denmark, against Ugo Humbert, France.
Denis Shapovalov, Canada against Casper Ruud, Norway.
