Cilic downs Shapovalov to reach second round in Basel

FILE PHOTO: Tennis - Shanghai Masters - Shanghai, China - October 9, 2018 - Marin Cilic of Croatia reacts during his match against Nicolas Jarry of Chile. REUTERS/Aly Song

(Reuters) - Third seed Marin Cilic eased into the second round of the Swiss Indoors tournament with a 6-4 6-2 victory over young Canadian Denis Shapovalov in Basel on Monday.

The Croatian, who was champion in Basel in 2016 and can seal a spot at the ATP Finals if he wins the title again this year, opened up a 4-0 lead in the first set before 19-year-old Shapovalov got on the scoreboard.