Shapovalov upsets Tiafoe at French Open as friendship is tested

PARIS (AP) — Canadian Denis Shapovalov upset No. 25 Frances Tiafoe in the second round of the French Open on Thursday.

A frosty handshake came when Tiafoe and Shapovalov — who are friends — met at the net after Shapovalov's 6-7 (4), 6-4, 6-2, 6-4 win. That's because Tiafoe sent a tennis ball off the side of Shapovalov's head with one on-the-run shot.

“I wasn’t happy with it. But it's tennis, so you can do what you want,” said Shapovalov, who joined Felix Auger-Aliassime to give Canada two men in the third round at Roland Garros for the first time in the Open era, which began in 1968. “Look, I'm sure we'll be fine in a couple days. Obviously, (in the) heat of the moment, it's not fun. But we’ll get through it.”

Auger-Aliassime and Shapovalov are among the players who originally were supposed to complete their second-rounders Wednesday. Because they didn't get done until Thursday, on account of the weather, they need to get back on court Friday for the third round.

There were victories for several top men Thursday: No. 1 Novak Djokovic, who seeks his fourth French Open championship and 25th from all Grand Slam tournaments, No. 4 Alexander Zverev, No. 8 Hubert Hurkacz and two-time runner-up Casper Ruud. No. 5 Daniil Medvedev and No. 15 Ben Shelton both advanced when their opponents stopped because of injury.