Denis Shapovalov

[Damian]

Denis Shapovalov: 'My dream is to meet Vladimir Putin'

Spoiler:

Denis Shapovalov defeated Matteo Berrettini to reach the St. Petersburg quarter-finals. In press conference, the Canadian player said: 'The match was very difficult.

Today Berrettini served in the angles very well. Many tough moments came in the first set, I could not break him. In the second set I felt tired. The third way was the most difficult one but I am happy to come through. Physically I am ready.

I already am used to play five sets, so it's easy for me to play three sets. I came with my family to St. Petersburg on Monday, just after the Davis Cup, we went on the plane. The last time my father was here he was ten years old.

He wanted to come here and visit the city. It's so beautiful here. I liked a lot to walk through the city.' Shapovalov, who was born in Tel Aviv (Israel) but is a naturalised Canadian, shared his love for Russia adding: 'I have not thought about getting the Russian passport yet.

I have a dream: meeting with Vladimir Putin. We will see. In the future, I would like to move to Russia, St. Petersburg mostly, but so far I am in The Bahamas' as reported by Sport Express. Shapovalov lost to Martin Klizan in the quarter-finals in three sets, 3-6 7-5 6-3, after that he was leading a set and a break.

Denis will next play Shenzhen, then Tokyo and Shanghai. ALSO READ: Sponsors do not affect my schedule, says Roger Federer .

https://www.tennisworldusa.org/tennis/n ... ir-putin-/

[Lleyton]

Shapovalov-Chung Blockbuster Headlines Tokyo Draw

Spoiler:

Nishikori attempting to claim third title in front of home fans

If you’re looking for excitement at the Rakuten Japan Open Tennis Championships 2018, you won’t have to wait long. There are plenty of tantalising first-round matchups in Tokyo, led by a clash between 2017 Next Gen ATP Finals winner Hyeon Chung and #NextGenATP Canadian Denis Shapovalov.

Two of the brightest talents in the sport will clash for the second time in their FedEx ATP Head2Head series, after Chung triumphed in the round-robin stage at Milan last November.

The South Korean will try to continue what has been a successful season, backing up his success at Fiera Milano by reaching the quarter-finals at nine of his 13 tour-level events in 2018. The 22-year-old cracked the Top 20 in April, and is currently the World No. 19. Shapovalov has also stood out, claiming 30 match wins so far this season, including a run to the Mutua Madrid Open semi-finals.

It won’t get any easier for the winner, as Chung or Shapovalov will face either former World No. 3 Stan Wawrinka and #NextGenATP American Taylor Fritz, who advanced to the semi-finals at the Chengdu Open. Wawrinka has shown signs of his top form during his comeback from two knee surgeries, beating reigning Nitto ATP Finals champion Grigor Dimitrov twice and making the last four at last week’s St. Petersburg Open.

The top seed, Marin Cilic, will begin his event against German Jan-Lennard Struff. In their only previous FedEx ATP Head2Head clash, at Sydney in 2014, the Croatian was victorious in three sets. He will look to continue his recent success in Tokyo, where the World No. 6 has reached the semi-finals the past two years.

The second seed is Kevin Anderson, who at No. 8 in the ATP Race To London is trying to qualify for the Nitto ATP Finals for the first time. The South African, who won the New York Open, advanced to the Wimbledon final and has made the semi-finals at two ATP World Tour Masters 1000 events (Madrid, Toronto) this year, opens against Aussie Matthew Ebden. The first seed he can face is No. 8 seed Richard Gasquet.

The home fans will be out in force to cheer on two-time Tokyo champion Kei Nishikori, who is making a push to rejoin the Top 10 once again. The Japanese superstar has won seven of his past nine matches, including an impressive effort at the US Open, where he reached the semi-finals. Third-seeded Nishikori plays compatriot Yuichi Sugita in the first round and he can eventually clash against fifth-seeded Stefanos Tsitsipas in the quarter-finals.

Another interesting first-rounder pits recent Moselle Open champion Gilles Simon against #NextGenATP Aussie Alex de Minaur. Simon has enjoyed a resurgent campaign, climbing from No. 89 in the ATP Rankings at the start of the year to No. 29. De Minaur owned just two tour-level match wins prior to 2018, but he has quickly shown his readiness for this level by reaching two ATP World Tour finals (Sydney and Washington, D.C.).

https://www.atpworldtour.com/en/news/to ... aw-preview

[arti]

[Barty]

Shapovalov Shines Under Pressure To Oust Chung

Spoiler:

Three-time finalist Raonic also advances

Denis Shapovalov lost to Hyeon Chung in their first FedEx ATP Head2Head meeting at last year’s inaugural Next Gen ATP Finals. But the 19-year-old Canadian got his revenge on Monday, defeating the South Korean 6-3, 3-6, 6-2 to advance to the second round of the Rakuten Japan Open Tennis Championships 2018.

“I’m definitely really happy with how I handled myself mentally. I didn’t let myself get out of my bubble too much. It was a really tough match against Hyeon and I knew going in that it was going to be very difficult,” Shapovalov said. “I’m really happy with the first round.”

Shapovalov has now won at least one match at nine consecutive tour-level events, and he will try to reach his fifth quarter-final of the season when he faces former World No. 3 Stan Wawrinka or fellow #NextGenATP player Taylor Fritz.

Watch Two Shapovalov Hot Shots



“I definitely am not thinking about that. I’m just taking it one match at a time, as always,” Shapovalov said of his consistency. “I think I’ve had really good preparations in every tournament that I’ve played, especially the past couple months having my mom by my side. She always makes me do that extra little bit more that just helps me get prepared even better for these tournaments and early in the stages. I’m definitely really happy with where I am in terms of the season. Hopefully I can keep going and keep playing well.”

The World No. 31 struck 14 aces and saved six of the seven break points he faced to oust Chung after one hour and 51 minutes. The Canadian was especially strong under pressure in the deciding set, when he saved all four break points held against him and broke Chung at both of his opportunities to move through in his Tokyo debut.

“It was just one or two points today. It was really close,” Shapovalov said. “If he breaks me in the third set, he was probably going to run away with the win. But I managed to stay strong, win my service games and I really turned the match, so I was really happy.”


In the first match of the day on Arena 1, No. 6 seed Milos Raonic powered past Frenchman Adrian Mannarino 6-3, 6-4 in just 68 minutes. It is a good start for the former World No. 3 in Tokyo, where he reached three consecutive finals from 2012-14.

“It’s good to be here. I’ve played well here over many instances. I enjoy the tournament here,” Raonic said. “This is a change of venue this year but I think they’ve done a great job in adapting it, adjusting for the fact that the old stadium is getting renovated for the Olympics. It’ll be exciting to be there again next year. But I really have a good time here, I try to come here when I can and it’s been good to me.”

The Ariake Tennis Forest Park, the traditional venue of the ATP World Tour 500-level tournament, is being renovated this year in preparation for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. The event will return there in 2019.

It was not an easy first-round matchup for the 27-year-old Raonic, as Mannarino had won their previous FedEx ATP Head2Head meeting last year in Montreal. But the Canadian hit 17 aces and won 92 per cent of first-serve points (22/36) en route to the second round in the Musashino Forest Sport Plaza.

“It’s tough. He has an unorthodox way of playing. He sort of mixes up pace, tries to take you out of your rhythm. He has the sidespin serve on the Ad side that pulls you really far where you have to be ready to be pulled outside the court and then work your way back into it. You have to really be disciplined with yourself in making sure you don’t get sucked into that change-of-pace gamestyle that he likes to play because he’s very talented,” Raonic said. “It’s hard to beat him at that. You have to really be the aggressor and try to play on your terms.”

Raonic will next face home favourite Yosuke Watanuki, who earned his first ATP World Tour match win by upsetting Dutchman Robin Haase 6-7(7), 6-4, 6-1 in exactly two hours.

Watanuki, who qualified to compete in just his second tour-level main draw, is currently No. 273 in the ATP Rankings. If he should defeat Raonic, the 20-year-old will crack the Top 200 for the first time.

https://www.atpworldtour.com/en/news/sh ... 018-monday

[Del Fed]

[DUN I LOVE]

Kolejne poważne nazwisko na rozkładzie.

Nadal w Montrealu17
Wawrinka w Tokio18

[Żilu]

[Lleyton]

[Barty]

Shapovalov Makes Dream Come True Against Stan

Spoiler:

#NextGenATP Canadian reaches the Tokyo QF
When #NextGenATP Canadian Denis Shapovalov walked on Arena 1 at the Rakuten Japan Open Tennis Championships 2018 to play former World No. 3 Stan Wawrinka, it was more than a tennis match; it was a dream come true.

With his best friend, Shapovalov watched Wawrinka win his three Grand Slam titles. The Swiss was the type of player Shapovalov wanted to be one day. And on Wednesday, the 19-year-old beat Wawrinka 4-6, 6-1, 6-4 to reach the quarter-finals in Tokyo.

“It didn’t even hit me until I walked on the court with him and he was on the other side and I couldn’t help but almost smile in a way. It kind of got to me, I got a little bit tight but I refocused and I thought to myself, ‘Okay it’s not Stan’,” Shapovalov said. “ It was great to be on the court with him. It’s a dream come true. But it’s one of those memories I’m never going to forget. It’s one of those 'what you live for' moments. It’s a great day today.”

You May Also Like: Read & Watch: Kyrgios, Anderson Work Hard In Tokyo Openers
But for a moment, it seemed that dream wouldn't have a fairytale ending. Shapovalov held three match points on Wawrinka’s serve as he led 5-3 in the third set. But those soon disappeared, including one match point on which the left-hander missed a swinging volley with nearly the entire court open.

“I went for a little bit too much, but that’s something I’ve been working on especially the past couple of weeks, just regrouping, refocusing myself and not letting it bother me,” Shapovalov said. “I had my service game and he played a really good first point. But again I didn’t let that affect me. I refocused, went back to the towel and managed to serve some big serves, so I’m really proud with that aspect today.”

Shapovalov missed out on a fourth match point on his own serve, but he closed out the thrilling victory after one hour and 50 minutes. Instead of crumbling, the 2017 Next Gen ATP Finals qualifier rose to the occasion to earn his 33rd tour-level match win of 2018.


“It’s a sport, it’s a game of tennis, people get tight. It’s normal. We’re all human,” Shapovalov said. “I’m sure even the best in the game get tight so it’s just about managing your emotions and regrouping, which I did really well today.”

He wasn’t the only Canadian to advance in Tokyo on Wednesday, as No. 6 seed Milos Raonic beat home favourite Yosuke Watanuki 6-3, 7-6(2) in one hour and 24 minutes.

The home favourite Watanuki, a qualifier, claimed his first ATP World Tour win against Robin Haase in the first round. But Raonic was too strong on serve, losing just eight service points in the match. The three-time finalist will continue pursuing his maiden title here when he plays in-form Daniil Medvedev.

The Russian ousted fellow qualifier Martin Klizan 6-4, 6-3 in one hour and 23 minutes. Medvedev won his first two tour-level titles this season, triumphing in Sydney and Winston-Salem.

https://www.atpworldtour.com/en/news/sh ... -wednesday

[DUN I LOVE]

Wraca Kanadyjczyk do półfinału turnieju ATP. Ogarnął tym samym w 2018 połówki turniejów wszystkich szczebli, proponowanych przez ATP.

250 - Delray Beach
500 - Tokio
1000 - Madryt

Jutro zagra o 1. zawodowy finał.

[Damian]

[arti]

[arti]

[Lleyton]

Did You Know?
On 11 June, Shapovalov became the youngest player to crack the Top 25 of the ATP Rankings since then-No. 19 Richard Gasquet on 25 July 2005. Shapovalov has climbed as high as No. 23.

https://www.atpworldtour.com/en/news/sh ... 018-friday

[grzes430]

Shapovalov Saves MP; Stuns Struff In Tokyo

Spoiler:

Medvedev ousts three-time finalist Raonic
#NextGenATP Canadian Denis Shapovalov, the youngest player remaining in the Rakuten Japan Open Tennis Championships 2018, saved match point in a second-set tie-break on Friday before ousting German Jan-Lennard Struff 4-6, 7-6(7), 6-4 to reach the semi-finals.

"In the third set I felt a little bit more momentum," Shapovalov said. "I felt I was able to free up a bit more and I managed to get an early break and from there I just kind of ran with it."


The 19-year-old advances to the last four at a tour-level event for the third time this season, after also doing so at the Delray Beach Open and the Mutua Madrid Open, where he became the youngest quarter-finalist and semi-finalist in tournament history. Shapovalov will attempt to make his maiden ATP World Tour final when he clashes against Russian Daniil Medvedev, who ousted three-time finalist Milos Raonic 7-6(4), 6-3.

"It's another opportunity for me to try to make my first final at an ATP event. But honestly, like I always do, I take it one match at a time. I'm very happy to escape today and I have another tough match tomorrow... I'm not too focused on the situation. I'm just going to try to focus on the things that I could do well in terms of how I play tomorrow and what I do, my strengths and stuff like this. And yeah, just try to win the match. Obviously it's a good opportunity, but I'm just going to focus on the match itself."


Shapovalov broke onto the ATP World Tour in a big way in Montreal last year, defeating Juan Martin del Potro and Rafael Nadal en route to the semi-finals. And the left-hander has kept the momentum going in 2018, earning his 34th tour-level match win of the year against Struff. He will look to make it even better, as he has not won a set in any of his three career semi-finals.

The No. 3 player in the ATP Race To Milan was on the verge of not making it that far. Struff constantly pressured Shapovalov's serve in the second set, getting to 15/30 three times and then earning a break point at 5-5, 30/40. And even after escaping all of those jams, Shapovalov faced match point with Struff serving at 7/6 in the tie-break.

Shapovalov was the steadier player under pressure, though. And after earning two consecutive mini-breaks, he punctuated the tie-break with an ace and stormed to victory in the third set after two hours and 22 minutes, continuing his pursuit of a spot at the Next Gen ATP Finals in Milan from 6-10 November. The moment reminded Shapovalov of his match at this year's US Open against Kevin Anderson, in which he won a tight fourth set before losing that momentum in the decider.

"After the [second] set I wanted to take a washroom break to just kind of refocus myself," Shapovalov said. "I tried to stay on it, tried to keep going with the momentum that I had. I was trying to put a lot of pressure on his serve. Obviously it was tough to do, he was serving really well today... I think I did a really good job of turning the match around today. Obviously it was tough. I think the first two sets, he really outplayed me, so I'm happy to come out of that."

You May Also Like: Medvedev Focuses On Continuing His Rise
It won't get easier against Medvedev, who is playing the best tennis of his life. While Shapovalov has won their two previous FedEx ATP Head2Head meetings, Medvedev has captured his first two ATP World Tour titles this season (Sydney, Winston-Salem), and the Russian is up to No. 32 in the ATP Rankings.

Medvedev did well to take care of his own serve, losing just 12 service points. He did not face a break point, but Medvedev broke the big-serving Canadian on his only chance in the second set en route to his one-hour, 15-minute triumph.

Did You Know?
On 11 June, Shapovalov became the youngest player to crack the Top 25 of the ATP Rankings since then-No. 19 Richard Gasquet on 25 July 2005. Shapovalov has climbed as high as No. 23.

https://www.atpworldtour.com/en/news/sh ... 018-friday

[Damian]

W tej chwili dla Denisa zwycięstwo w półfinale jest barierą nie do przejścia. Na dzień dzisiejszy nie udało się nawet ugrać seta w tej fazie turnieju.

Półfinały w karierze 0-4. (0-8 w setach).

vs Zverev 6-4 7-5 Montreal'17
vs Tiafoe 7-5 6-4 Delray Beach'18
vs Zverev 6-4 6-1 Madrid'18
vs Miedwiediew 6-3 6-3 Tokio'18

[Barty]

Z samymi niewiele starszymi od siebie przegrywał.

[Damian]

[Damian]

Shapovalov, De Minaur, Tiafoe Qualify For Next Gen ATP Finals

Spoiler:

Eight of the world's best 21-and-under players will compete in Milan
A trio of #NextGenATP leaders qualified for the Next Gen ATP Finals on Wednesday. Canada's Denis Shapovalov, Aussie Alex de Minaur and Frances Tiafoe of the U.S. joined Greece's Stefanos Tsitsipas and German Alexander Zverev as players to have qualified for the prestigious 21-and-under event, to be held 6-10 November in Milan. (Zverev will not be playing in Milan because of his Nitto ATP Finals qualification.)

The 19-year-old Shapovalov qualified for the second consecutive year. He fell just short of reaching the semi-finals at the Fiera Milano last year after a breakout season that saw him become the youngest ATP World Tour Masters 1000 semi-finalist in history (since 1990).

The left-hander has backed up his 2017. He made another Masters 1000 semi-final in Madrid, becoming the youngest semi-finalist in tournament history. Shapovalov also reached the semi-finals at the Delray Beach Open and the Rakuten Japan Open Tennis Championships 2018 in Tokyo.

You May Also Like: 5 Things To Know About Tsitsipas, Who's Headed To Milan
De Minaur's 2018 rise, however, might be the most drastic of anyone on the ATP World Tour. In December, the #NextGenATP Aussie was No. 210 in the ATP Rankings. This week, the 19-year-old reached a career-high No. 31 and could be even higher when he heads to Milan, as he's defending only 30 points the remainder of the regular season.

De Minaur, then 18, started the year by making the semi-finals at the Brisbane International (l. to Harrison) and the final at the Sydney International (l. to Medvedev). He was the youngest player to reach semi-finals in consecutive weeks since Rafael Nadal at the 2005 Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters and Barcelona Open Banc Sabadell.

In August, the 19-year-old De Minaur became the youngest Citi Open finalist since Andy Murray in 2006. De Minaur fell to Zverev in the Washington final, which was the youngest ATP World Tour title match since Rafael Nadal, 20, and Novak Djokovic, 19, at the 2007 BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells.

Watch: Hewitt & De Minaur: A Perfect Combination


Tiafoe reached two ATP World Tour finals and jumped more than 60 spots in the ATP Rankings this year, from No. 108 in January to No. 45 this week.

In February, the 20-year-old won his maiden ATP World Tour title in Delray Beach, beating Juan Martin del Potro, 2017 Next Gen ATP Finals titlist Hyeon Chung, Shapovalov and German Peter Gojowczyk.

Tiafoe became the first wild-card recipient to win the title in the tournament's 26-year history, and he became the youngest American champion on tour since Andy Roddick, 19, at 2002 Houston.

In May, on the Estoril clay, Tiafoe reached his second ATP World Tour final, falling to home favourite Joao Sousa.

Eight of the world's best 21-and-under players will compete at the Next Gen ATP Finals. The top seven spots will be determined by the ATP Race To Milan, which ends 29 October, while the eighth spot will be reserved for the winner of an all-Italian qualifier tournament to be held just prior to the Next Gen ATP Finals.

More Stories Like This In: Next Gen ATP Finals 2018 Denis Shapovalov Player Features Milan Frances Tiafoe Alex de Minaur

https://www.atpworldtour.com/en/news/sh ... milan-2018

[Żilu]