Shapovalov ends five-match losing streak with first-round win at Queen's Club

Denis Shapovalov of Canada celebrates beating Britain's Jack Pinnington Jones on day eight of the Tennis Championships at The Queen's Club, London, Monday, June 15, 2026. (Adam Davy/PA via AP)

LONDON — Canada’s Denis Shapovalov won his first ATP Tour singles match in nearly two months with a 6-4, 4-6, 7-6 (3) win over British wildcard Jack Pinnington Jones in first-round action Monday at the HSBC Championships.

Shapovalov was given all he could handle from Pinnington Jones, who entered the match 106 places behind Shapovalov in the tour rankings at No. 147 and was the home favourite at The Queen’s Club in West London.

The 23-year-old Brit broke Shapovalov to go up 6-5 in the third set. But Shapovalov won the next game against serve to set up a tiebreaker, then took the extra session with three straight points, including two on return.

Shapovalov fired eight aces in the match. Both players converted three breaks, with two apiece coming in the third set.

Shapovalov had lost five straight matches since advancing to the quarterfinals of the clay-court BMW Open in April.

He will next face the winner of a match between top seed Alex de Minaur of Australia and Montreal’s Gabriel Diallo at the ATP 500 grass-court event.