Shapovalov rues letting Djokovic off hook
LONDON: Denis Shapovalov left Centre Court at Wimbledon to a standing ovation but in tears due to what he felt was a missed opportunity to beat world number one Novak Djokovic and reach the men’s final.
The 22-year-old Canadian, who admitted to being mentally exhausted owing largely to having to live in a bubble due to Covid-19 restrictions, had good reason to rue his missed chances on Friday.
Djokovic saved 10 of 11 break points to go through to defend his title after running out a 7-6 (7/3), 7-5, 7-5 winner.
Shapovalov had become an ‘adopted Briton’ due to his engaging personality and expressive behaviour on court.
Children at a London school had recorded a song in his honour a revised version of MC Hammer’s ‘U Can’t Touch This’ as their teacher Adam Kohlbeck knows Shapovalov from his days as a tennis coach.
Shapovalov, though, could not hold back the emotion at the end of his first ever Grand Slam semi-final.
“I think what hurt so much this time was just that I felt like the game is there and it’s possible to go and play for the trophy,” said Shapovalov.
“It’s a feeling I’ve never had before, so that’s why it just hurt so much.
“I felt like I was outplaying Novak in parts of the match. If you’re outplaying Novak, you can beat anyone. It just hurt a lot.”
The Israel-born Shapovalov – his Ukraine-born mother and Russian father emigrated to Canada when he was a baby – said the intensity of his campaign had taken a toll.
“It’s been a long two weeks,” said Shapovalov.
“It’s been a lot of pressure, a lot of mental fatigue. Like, it all kind of spilled out on the court before I could control myself.”
Shapovalov, though, could see positives too from his campaign.
He beat two-time champion Andy Murray, 2019 semifinalist Roberto Bautista Agut and prevailed in a thrilling five set quarter-final with Karen Khachanov.
“For sure there’s a lot of things to be proud for myself,” he said.
“It’s almost good to have a little bit of a taste because it just makes me want it that much more going into the next slams and into the future.”