Denis Shapovalov took a few days off.The Canadian high-flyer will also start his 2017 Asia tour this weekend by participating in the qualification competition in Tokyo.
Denis Shapovalov’s landing in the hard tennis reality couldn’t be harder: Especially in the box of the world team with his sports buddies Kyrgios, Sock, Isner and Co., coached by John McEnroe – and now it’s back to the mills of qualification, namely in Tokyo.Shapovalov is currently in 52nd position, second best in his country.The 18-year-old, however, is holding up the Canadian flag almost alone until Milos Raonic returns – not only in the Davis Cup against India, where Shapovalov contributed two points to his team’s 3-2 victory, which will also be in the 2018 World Group.
The days of Prague have left a lasting impression on Denis Shapovalov – but with all due respect for his immediate playmates, it was the two European top players Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer who gave Shapovalov a close look.
“John McEnroe as captain, to be in the same event as Roger and Rafa, is a dream that has come true.”
It is well known that it was not enough for the world team to win – Shapovalov was also not able to make his only appearance: As at the home tournament in Montreal, the Canadian was also defeated at the Laver Cup Alexander Zverev.The rest was intensive cheerleading – and breaking down inhibitions.
The first impression is:”Oh, my God, it’s Roger,”Shapovalov continues,”but then you talk to him and he’s like everyone else.And he was talking about my tennis, he thinks I have great potential” Shapovalov, that was extremely inspiring for him,”I watched him when I was a child.And the fact that my idol talks to me like that is the best feeling in the world.”
Incidentally, Shapovalov also needed a wildcard for the qualifying tableau in Tokyo: at the closing date, the 18-year-old was still far outside the cut.The free rides for the main field went all together to local heroes: Taro Daniel, Go Soeda and Yasutaka Uchiyama will be the lucky recipients.