Canada’s Denis Shapovalov loses in first round at Dubai Tennis Championships

Canada’s Denis Shapovalov lost to Spain’s Pablo Carreno Busta 6-2, 6-4 in the first round of the Dubai Tennis Championships on Tuesday.

Shapovalov hit 8 aces and 4 double faults in the 1 hour and 17 minute match.

The world No. 36 from Richmond Hill, Ont., also earned just two breaks of serve in his nine opportunities.

After losing the first set, Shapovalov led 2-0 in the second set. However, he lost five consecutive games to the Spaniard, eventually chasing the score to 5-4.

40-15, Shapovalov failed to equalize the score, Busta equalized the score. The Canadian then committed a forced error to give Busta the advantage, before Busta hit the winner on match point.

Busta didn’t have an ace and double-faulted twice, but he converted five of nine break-point opportunities.