Canada’s Shapovalov ousted from Dubai Tennis Championships in first round

By Canadian Press on February 24, 2026.

DUBAI — Canada’s Denis Shapovalov lost his opening-round match of the Dubai Tennis Championships 6-2, 6-4 to Spain’s Pablo Carreno Busta on Tuesday.

Shapovalov had eight aces to four double faults in the one-hour, 17-minute match.

The world No. 36 from Richmond Hill, Ont., also broke on just two of his nine opportunities.

After being outclassed in the opening set, Shapovalov got off to a 2-0 lead in the second. However, he gave up five consecutive games to the Spaniard before making it a 5-4 set.

Up 40-15, Shapovalov failed to tie the set and Busta pushed the game to a deuce. The Canadian then committed a forced error to give advantage to Busta, who then fired a winner on match point.

Busta went without an ace and had two double faults, but converted on five of his nine break-point chances.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 24, 2026.

The Canadian Press