Denis Shapovalov - team player with a big role model
Denis Shapovalov will lead the Canadian team at the ATP Cup in Brisbane. As with the Davis Cup final tournament in Madrid will be expected with the maple leaves.
by Jens Huiber
last edit: Dec 07, 2019, 09:57 am
Denis Shapovalov has mixed feelings with the Davis Cup: First there was the incident in early 2017, when he beat a ball in the direction of Pampa in the match against Kyle Edmund. Unfortunately referee Arnaud Gabas sat in the trajectory of the ball and got the ball on the cheekbones. Shapovalov was disqualified and later fined $ 7,000. Gabas had surgery.
On the other hand, the most traditional team competition in tennis has left the left-hander a lot of friends, most recently in Madrid, where the Canadians were inferior to Rafael Nadal and his Spaniards in the final. Granted in a format that does not have much to do with the original Davis Cup idea. On the other hand, with two players at his side, with whom Denis Shapovalov cultivates very special relationships.
Success with Auger Aliassime
Félix Auger-Aliassime, who came in after a long injury break in the endgame, lost to Roberto Bautista Agut. "My best memory is when we won the Junior Davis Cup in 2015 with Félix and Benjamin Sigouin," said Shapovalov to the ATP website. "We then discussed this in the cabin, remembering how much heart we put into the whole week. And we hoped that someday we could do that on a professional level as well. "
The other colleague the current Canadian number one appreciates is Vasek Pospisil. He played one amazing feat after another in Madrid, playing a key role in the finals of Frank Dancevic's team. "I've always watched Vasek," Shapovalov continued. "I liked the way he gave himself on the court. It always looks like he enjoys it. And he has always felt committed to Canada. He is someone I look up to. And I want to reach someday. "
Zverev and Tsitsipas as opponents
The next opportunity to join the team will be in early 2020 in Brisbane. Again, Shapovalov will be the front man of the Canadians in the matches, this time in the ATP Cup in a group with Germany, Greece and the hosts Australia. So it threatens tough matches against Alexander Zverev, Stefanos Tsitsipas and Alex de Minaur. Additional motivation that Shapovalov does not actually need.
"Playing in a team is just so much fun. From the moment I picked up a racket, I've always looked at team competitions. I always wanted to play for my country. "