Shapovalov feeling stronger and ‘a lot more relaxed’
Denis Shapovalov walked onto Arthur Ashe Stadium last year and felt overwhelmed by the magnitude of the court, the brightness of the lights and the rousing cheers of the crowd.
Then he started playing. And those outside distractions seemed to fade away.
The young Canadian tennis star won’t be frazzled when he takes the court next week in his second U.S. Open.
But the memories of his debut at the Grand Slam aren’t far from his mind.
“It’s probably one of the greatest memories of my career so far, playing under those lights,” Shapovalov said Thursday from New York.
“I just remember how insanely big the court was and how it wasn’t so easy to concentrate at the beginning because there was so much going on, so many people there.
“But I always wanted to play on the big court. So when I got the chance last year, instead of getting afraid I got inspired and motivated to go out there and show how well I could play.”
Shapovalov burst on to the tennis scene last summer when he followed up a semifinal run at the Rogers Cup in Montreal with a round of 16 appearance at the U.S. Open.
The Richmond Hill, Ont., product started that Rogers Cup ranked 143rd in the world and rose to No. 51, beating Daniil Medvedev, Kyle Edmund and No. 12 Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (after three qualifying victories) in New York.
Shapovalov, who enters this year’s U.S. Open at No. 28, said he’s matured and grown as a person since last year, gaining the confidence that comes with upset wins in big tournaments.
His tennis game has improved, too.
“I’m physically stronger, mentally stronger, everything’s gotten better,” he said.
But the biggest difference between the lead-up to the last U.S. Open and this one?
“I feel a lot more relaxed,” Shapovalov said.
“Last year was about me backing up my results at the Rogers Cup and I had to qualify, so there was a lot of pressure.
“This year I’m keeping the same routine: staying at the same hotel, eating at the same places, so I’m more familiar with everything. I feel that sense of calmness and experience and I’m very comfortable right now.”
While the 2017 Rogers Cup endeared Shapovalov to Canadian tennis fans, he feels the U.S. Open helped put him on the map in a more global sense.