Canadian tennis star Denis Shapovalov who has recently broken through the ranks and is gradually growing as a player has played some scintillating tennis at the ATP Dubai Tennis Championships. The World No. 12 has powered his way through to the semifinals and has done it in style, without dropping a set.
Shapovalov got the better of Frenchman Jeremi Chardy in the quarterfinals as he defeated him 7-5,6-4 to progress to the last four. A lot of people have been impressed with the 21-year old’s rise in the sport and he will only do justice to it if he can pose a challenge to Andrey Rublev who is tipped to be the favourite to lift the Dubai Open.
In the second round, the Canadian defeated Hubert Hurkacz 6-4, 6-3 in only 76 minutes and displayed great strength in both serve and return. After the second-round match, the World No. 12 claimed that he is feeling really well and is happy with his achievements so far. But can’t say when his game will click enough for him to win major titles.
“When you’re growing up, you always imagine and wish to be as good as possible,” Shapovalov said.
“I never imagined having the run I had so early in my career, and I’ve been able to kind of just progress through the years and get better every season. So, of course, in one way, I cannot believe that this early in my career, I’m able to play so well, but on the other side, I’m here now, so I’m just like any other player.”
He revealed how he has worked really hard with his new coach Mikhail Youzhny ahead of the Australian Open and he also feels to be at his physical best. But he does not know when his time will come to win the major titles.
“I’m trying to keep going forward and keep getting better and improve myself as a player. I’ve put in a lot of good work with Mischa Youzhny in a training block after the Australian Open, and I feel confident in my game and how I feel physically. But it’s impossible to say when everything will click together. It’s never guaranteed, and I am fighting for every point.,” World No. 12 concluded.
