Challenger Experience A Top Priority For Surging Shapovalov

Denis Shapovalov has had just one week to digest how his summer is unfolding. Junior Wimbledon title… check. First ATP World Tour main draw at the Citi Open… check. First ATP World Tour match win against World No. 16 Nick Kyrgios in front of thousands of screaming home fans at the Rogers Cup… triple check.

Where most 17-year-olds are enjoying their summer months relaxing at the beach and lounging with friends, Shapovalov is spending countless hours on court as he strives towards his professional ambitions. Having experienced a taste of success on both ends of the spectrum, the Canadian understands that developing his skills and building confidence at the Challenger level is imperative.

“My parents told me from the start to not expect this all the time,” Shapovalov told ATPWorldTour.com at the Challenger Banque Nationale de Gatineau. “It’s two wild cards at two dream tournaments, but then it’s back to reality and back to grinding. I expected it and it hasn’t been a problem for me yet. Those tournaments motivated me more than anything. It’s a long way and I just have to keep working. These Challengers give me that opportunity.”

Shapovalov’s longtime coach Adriano Fuorivia agrees that it’s a long process and the ATP Challenger Tour is an important next step for his pupil to return to the big stage.

“Hopefully playing in Challengers against guys in the 100-200 range will continue to push his level and further motivate him to reach for that top level. He won some Futures events in Florida at the beginning of the year, then came off the big win at Wimbledon juniors and now against Kyrgios, so he’s been playing with so much more confidence and is believing that he belongs in a higher category.

“We told him that you have to earn your way there. The wild cards into Washington and Toronto were a nice opportunity, but you have to earn your way back. That means playing more Challengers. I know it’s tough. It’s not easy to play in the spotlight at Wimbledon and night matches in Toronto in front of large crowds. But it’s a learning experience.

“Going back out there every single day and feeling that you have to perform in front of that crowd can be a different pressure. That’s not necessarily Denis’ problem, but these are thoughts in my mind that you have to prepare yourself for. And then you’re back playing on Court 1 or 2 at a smaller event, but that’s just another step in his development at a young age.”

Shapovalov’s tenure on the ATP Challenger Tour got off to an auspicious start in March, with a stunning run to the semi-finals on home soil in Drummondville. His first-round win over countryman Filip Peliwo made him the first player born in 1999 to win a Challenger match, which he proceeded to follow up with a straight-sets upset of second seed Austin Krajicek. Shapovalov would catapult more than 200 spots in the Emirates ATP Rankings to No. 551. It was a week that set the tone for his breakthrough season.

“I played some incredible tennis there and I wasn’t expecting to beat [Krajicek] in the quarters,” Shapovalov reflected. “We actually packed our bags, getting ready to go home before that. When I played Daniel Evans, I played amazing too. Ever since then he’s been in the Top 100 and made the third round at Wimbledon. It gave me so much experience and confidence. Now I need to pump up my fitness and work with Adriano to get ready for a few Challengers in the U.S. at the end of the year.”

“I don’t want to say it was a surprise, but just the level he was playing at was pretty high,” Fuorivia added. “Everything was clicking. His serve, forehand, backhand were all on. I don’t look at who he beats because everyone has an off day. I look at his level. If I feel that the level was looking pretty good, then I know he can play with these guys. And when the level is high, then the ranking will follow.”

The Italian-born Fuorivia, who first started working with Shapovalov four years ago, acknowledges that his pupil’s greatest asset is his mental approach. Where most teens would be looking ahead to an upcoming family vacation in Greece, Shapovalov, who is into his second straight Challenger quarter-final this week in Gatineau, is wired differently.

“He’s very perceptive in that he immediately notices what it takes to compete at this level and say ‘I have to do this better’ or ‘I need a better 1-2 shot’. He’s never played a junior game. It’s always been a ‘go for it’ game.

“The transition to playing the pros was easier for him. His serve improved and his attacking ball got better. I’m not saying he’s there, but it wasn’t so hard for him to stay in points because he goes for his shots. There’s so much in him to learn and get better.”