ATP Masters Toronto: Denis Shapovalov has himself on the slip
After making it to the Wimbledon semi-finals, Denis Shapovalov would like to show off at the ATP Masters 1000 tournament in Toronto.
by Jens Huiber
last edit:
Aug 08, 2021, 08:13 am
The last surviving pictures of Denis Shapovalov on a large tennis court were rather sad: The Canadian had lost in the Wimbledon semifinals to Novak Djokovic in a close match in which he could have won at least the first set. Maybe even have to. It goes without saying that it would have been a long way to a victory over Djokovic from then on. But Shapovalov would have liked to see it. Instead: a tearful finish.
But if it is true that you always learn more from defeats than from victories (at this point you could also consult Alexander Zverev , who seems to have gotten stronger after the bankruptcy against Dominic Thiem at the US Open last year), then Shapovalov has a wonderful second half of the year ahead of the ATP tour. He has already shown in Rome that the left-hander is close to the big players: There he really had the future champion Rafael Nadal on the verge of defeat, but could not use two match points.
In the coming week Shapovalov wants to do better. After all, he already defeated Nadal in the Canadian ATP Masters 1000 tournament in 2017, albeit in Montréal back then. As is well known, this time the game will be played in Toronto.
Shapovalov against Nadal only possible in the final
But: Home game is home game for Denis Shapovalov, who would certainly welcome a reunion with Nadal. Because according to the draw, this would take place in the final. Shapovalov has been drawn into the top half and could face Andrey Rublev in the quarter-finals, then Daniil Medvedev. The two-time defending champion Nadal attacks from the bottom of the tableau. The start could already be hairy for Shapovalov, who is seeded at number seven: He may meet Sebastian Korda, who seems to be getting stronger with every tournament, but narrowly failed to Jannik Sinner in Washington this week.
skytoronto
“I'm in a great mood, the momentum from Wimbledon is great. And I feel that my game has taken one or two steps forward over the last few months, ”said Shapovalov in the run-up to the tournament. “I feel like a confident player right now. I believe that I can keep up with everyone, that I will be in great danger. ”Perhaps these are the ingredients that make Denis Shapovalov cry again in Toronto - but this time out of joy.
Here the single tableau in Toronto
torontomap