The Shape Of Things To Come: Denis Shapovalov!

gogo

gogo

Legend
Max G. said:
And Fognini.
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I was at that match. Fognini was being a jerk. He slammed a ball at a ball kid. He argued incessantly with the officials. He pouted. He delayed. He sneered. It didn't take long for the crowd to attack him. He deserved it. To be there and see his antics first hand pretty much sealed the deal for me, that I could never be a fan, despite his great tennis abilities.
 
M

Max G.

Legend
Shapovalov unable to close out De Minaur from a set and a break up, unfortunately. Loses 6 straight games when up 7-6 4-2. ADM really is in his head, isn't he. Also not playing in the dubs.
 
stringertom

stringertom

Bionic Poster
Max G. said:
Shapovalov unable to close out De Minaur from a set and a break up, unfortunately. Loses 6 straight games when up 7-6 4-2. ADM really is in his head, isn't he. Also not playing in the dubs.
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It’s a pattern but not an established one...just in team competition twice. Tsitsipas had a longer drought vs Medvedev in regular tour match play but broke through on the big stage at WTF.
 
Sparlingo

Sparlingo

Hall of Fame
Felix had a bad loss here and it will take him a while for him to get back to his top level. Shapo had a good loss yesterday, fought hard but got ground down by a real grinder who was very familiar with court conditions and was indefatigable. Very enjoyable match to watch and congratulations Australia, who I am now hoping for. Not such a bad thing now for Shapo to be out of this and get ready for the AO. Just one more small job for him here - beat Zverev. (Someone described De Minaur as a "Boa restrictor", I like that.)
 
prairiegirl

prairiegirl

Hall of Fame
Why would he be tired? He's only 20 years old and in peak condition. It's the top of the year, so no reason for fatigue whatsoever. No, it's something else. He's still inconsistent, which has long been his problem. I thought Youzhney was helping him to get over that. Of course it's very early in the season, and way to early to come to any conclusion. But, he should have won that match. He was up a set and a break, and then he played a horrible game at 4-2. After that, he fell apart, for no reason whatsoever.
 
Sparlingo

Sparlingo

Hall of Fame
You can't win em all. In rankings de Minaur and Shapo are close. Court conditions, heat, and crowd were in Alex's favour and he was rock solid under pressure—he saved 14 of the 16 break points he faced. Eventually Shapo will eclipse de Minaur but right now he's a difficult gritty opponent that's tough for Shapo to beat.
 
T

tonylg

Legend
prairiegirl said:
Why would he be tired? He's only 20 years old and in peak condition. It's the top of the year, so no reason for fatigue whatsoever. No, it's something else. He's still inconsistent, which has long been his problem. I thought Youzhney was helping him to get over that. Of course it's very early in the season, and way to early to come to any conclusion. But, he should have won that match. He was up a set and a break, and then he played a horrible game at 4-2. After that, he fell apart, for no reason whatsoever.
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He's playing back to back matches with singles and doubles, which would certainly be a strain. I haven't seen him or FAA spending much time on the practice court. Conditions are hot here and the crowd were against him, big time. He reacted better than FAA, but would not be used to that.

But for me, I like that he's an attacking player. I know it's not the done thing these days, but I'd rather see him continue to attack and develop consistency than be just another grinder who tries can't attack because it's so alien to their whole game and thinking.

Shapo's game is exciting for all the reasons it is inconsistent. I remember a young player named Roger who was the same in his early years.
 
Sparlingo

Sparlingo

Hall of Fame
tonylg said:
He's playing back to back matches with singles and doubles, which would certainly be a strain. I haven't seen him or FAA spending much time on the practice court. Conditions are hot here and the crowd were against him, big time. He reacted better than FAA, but would not be used to that.

But for me, I like that he's an attacking player. I know it's not the done thing these days, but I'd rather see him continue to attack and develop consistency than be just another grinder who tries can't attack because it's so alien to their whole game and thinking.

Shapo's game is exciting for all the reasons it is inconsistent. I remember a young player named Roger who was the same in his early years.
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Exactly how I feel. Shapo's willingness to try everything is what will make him great, but "everything" takes time. Take just the art of going to the net and hand skills needed there, takes time. You're not going to be get good at it if you never do it (Zverev). I honestly can't think of one aspect of Shapo's game that isn't improving slowly but surely.
 
prairiegirl

prairiegirl

Hall of Fame
tonylg said:
He's playing back to back matches with singles and doubles, which would certainly be a strain. I haven't seen him or FAA spending much time on the practice court. Conditions are hot here and the crowd were against him, big time. He reacted better than FAA, but would not be used to that.

But for me, I like that he's an attacking player. I know it's not the done thing these days, but I'd rather see him continue to attack and develop consistency than be just another grinder who tries can't attack because it's so alien to their whole game and thinking.

Shapo's game is exciting for all the reasons it is inconsistent. I remember a young player named Roger who was the same in his early years.
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A very thoughtful reply. Thank you. I do like his attacking game also. and, I agree with you re: the grinding game. That's why I don't enjoy DeMinaur. But, I have to give him credit, he really took it to Denis. But, I think eventually Denis will figure him out.
 
T

tonylg

Legend
prairiegirl said:
A very thoughtful reply. Thank you. I do like his attacking game also. and, I agree with you re: the grinding game. That's why I don't enjoy DeMinaur. But, I have to give him credit, he really took it to Denis. But, I think eventually Denis will figure him out.
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I like the contrast of styles and although he came within a whisker of winning yesterday, hope he doesn't figure Alex out .. because I'm an Aussie. There aren't many around like Shapo, so I do truly want to see him kick on and be a top 5 player .. which won't happen in today's slow game unless he becomes a grinder. Sad really.
 
James P

James P

G.O.A.T.
Shapo has been playing great. A minor setback in Demon isn't a reason to think any differently. It's not like he lost to some over the hill guy ranked #75. He lost to a similarly talented player who just had the better day. I still think Shapo cracks the top 10 in 2020. De Minaur might as well.
 
T

tonylg

Legend
James P said:
Shapo has been playing great. A minor setback in Demon isn't a reason to think any differently. It's not like he lost to some over the hill guy ranked #75. He lost to a similarly talented player who just had the better day. I still think Shapo cracks the top 10 in 2020. De Minaur might as well.
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He played well yesterday and fought until the end.

Put into perspective, Shapo lost a close one to a player with a similar ranking, Djokovic won in two tiebreakers against a guy ranked in the 90s.
 
TenS_Ace

TenS_Ace

Professional
I can't figure out Shapo's troubles...He did BEAT Nadal a couple years ago and was headed to GOAT status by a few in here :-D:-D
 
Sparlingo

Sparlingo

Hall of Fame
TenS_Ace said:
I can't figure out Shapo's troubles...He did BEAT Nadal a couple years ago and was headed to GOAT status by a few in here :-D:-D
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It has not yet been determined that Shapo isn't headed to GOAT status. I'm not saying he is headed for that but he still has a shot at it. I don't understand what you mean by "Shapo's troubles". In the live rankings he went to 13th in the world today and is the only person under 21 in the top 20. If by "Shapo's troubles" you mean he is doing great then I agree with you.
 
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Sparlingo

Sparlingo

Hall of Fame
From FullonTennis:

Dislikes: Denis has struggled for consistency, but this is only a minor peeve for me. Patience with him will be worth the wait. A particular other talented youngster took a little longer than expected before achieving peRFection.

fullontennis.com

No 15. Denis Shapovalov

The young and profoundly skilled Denis achieved a career-high ranking this year despite a midseason slump that included five straight losses. Shapo got his first tournament victory at Stockholm and…
fullontennis.com fullontennis.com
 
M

Max G.

Legend
Shapo gets another top-10 win but yeah, this one just looked sad. Still, good to keep working on reversing that bad H2H with Zverev he started out with.

That doubles match was fun to watch. Shapo was playing well... until he hit *two* doublefaults in the second-set tiebreak, but they won it anyway.

Unfortunately, Canada is unlikely to advance - Australia won that group, and with canada's 2-1 tie record and 5-4 match record, they're unlikely to be one of the best-two second-place teams (IMO it's likely there's gonna be two second-place teams with 6-3 match records). They needed just one more match win to have a shot.

So next it's off to New Zealand!
 
prairiegirl

prairiegirl

Hall of Fame
Anyone think he has a good chance in NZ? I wonder if Zverev and Tsitsipas will be there. And, will Tsitsipas injure anyone else?
 
M

Max G.

Legend
He’ll certainly have a shot. According to the current list he’d be the third seed behind Medvedev and Fognini. So IMO he’d be the second favorite behind Med, he’s playing better than Fog now.

There’s others in the list that could give him trouble, like Hurkacz.
 
T

Tornes

Semi-Pro
Max G. said:
Shapo gets another top-10 win but yeah, this one just looked sad. Still, good to keep working on reversing that bad H2H with Zverev he started out with.

That doubles match was fun to watch. Shapo was playing well... until he hit *two* doublefaults in the second-set tiebreak, but they won it anyway.

Unfortunately, Canada is unlikely to advance - Australia won that group, and with canada's 2-1 tie record and 5-4 match record, they're unlikely to be one of the best-two second-place teams (IMO it's likely there's gonna be two second-place teams with 6-3 match records). They needed just one more match win to have a shot.

So next it's off to New Zealand!
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Well, if I am not mistaken, Canada is through...
 
prairiegirl

prairiegirl

Hall of Fame
Pospisil is there? Why hasn't he played so far? I would have put him in against Struff. So, you believe Shapo can defeat Djokovic? That would be spectacular.
 
T

tonylg

Legend
prairiegirl said:
Pospisil is there? Why hasn't he played so far? I would have put him in against Struff. So, you believe Shapo can defeat Djokovic? That would be spectacular.
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No, I haven't seen Pospisil here. If he's fit, it's an insult if he wasn't selected after the way he played in Spain. I'd have him on a plane and dump FAA, or at the very least play him in the doubles.

Shapo had a good, tough win against #6 Tsitsipas, flogged a hapless #7 Zverev and a narrow loss to #18 de Minaur who just goated in front of a massive Australian cheer squad. Djokovic was taken to two breakers by #147 Kevin Anderson, flogged an injured #9 Monfils and beat #33 Garin less convincingly than Anderson did.

By any sensible measure, Shapo has had tougher matches and I'd certainly rate him a chance based on seeing both of them.

Doubles has been a lottery. Troicki is an excellent doubles player, but he's the only one on the team who is. I think Shapo and Pospisil could definitely take the doubles. FAA has been shaky in singles and really quite poor in the doubles. Again, you guys really stand a better chance with Pospisil.
 
Sparlingo

Sparlingo

Hall of Fame
tonylg said:
No, I haven't seen Pospisil here. If he's fit, it's an insult if he wasn't selected after the way he played in Spain. I'd have him on a plane and dump FAA, or at the very least play him in the doubles.

Shapo had a good, tough win against #6 Tsitsipas, flogged a hapless #7 Zverev and a narrow loss to #18 de Minaur who just goated in front of a massive Australian cheer squad. Djokovic was taken to two breakers by #147 Kevin Anderson, flogged an injured #9 Monfils and beat #33 Garin less convincingly than Anderson did.

By any sensible measure, Shapo has had tougher matches and I'd certainly rate him a chance based on seeing both of them.

Doubles has been a lottery. Troicki is an excellent doubles player, but he's the only one on the team who is. I think Shapo and Pospisil could definitely take the doubles. FAA has been shaky in singles and really quite poor in the doubles. Again, you guys really stand a better chance with Pospisil.
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I don't think anyone avoided selecting Pospisil, selection is based on some sort of singles / doubles ranking. What should have happened is someone to have bowed out so Pospisil could have been there or he may have declined.
 
M

Max G.

Legend
Pospisil wasn’t on the team, unfortunately. It’s Shapo, FAA, Diez, Polanski, Shamasdin. They were selected via rankings at whenever the entry deadline was.
 
Sparlingo

Sparlingo

Hall of Fame
Here we go again against Djokovic. What could be better tune up than that for the AO? Nothing. And his chances cannot be completely dismissed either. Last time he won only 7% of his 2nd serves so may as well serve 2 first serves.
 
Sparlingo

Sparlingo

Hall of Fame
Much speculation in tennisdom about whether Shapo can make the top 10 by year end.

Fun Fact #1: If Shapo wins his next 3 matches then he will be in the top 10 by week end. (end of week 1 that is)

Fun Fact #2: Prince Harry is moving to Canada.

Fun Fact #3: Fun Fact's don't have to be related to tennis or each other.
 
Sparlingo

Sparlingo

Hall of Fame
This has been a great tournament for Shapo, even his losses have been dazzling. He can now expect to be in the conversation with Thiem, Medvedev, Tsit's and Zverev. He will soon enter the top 10 and stay there. He has arrived.
 
Joseph_K

Joseph_K

Hall of Fame
Shapo has been seeded no. 2 for next week's ASB Classic in Auckland and will face either a qualifier or Joao Sousa of Portugal in his opening match, the Canadian benefitting from a first-round bye. Should he reach the quarter-finals, and he only needs to win one match to do so, Shapo could face the Norwegian hope Casper Ruud.
 
M

Max G.

Legend
Good tests both of those.

Sousa should be an easy win at this stage of his career... ...but last year around the same time he definitely was not.

Ruud's playing some excellent tennis too.
 
Sparlingo

Sparlingo

Hall of Fame
tonylg said:
Oh dear, any Shapo fans looked at his AO draw?

If he can get past Fucsovics and Sinner, he then would likely get Dimitrov and then Federer.

Tough draw, but could be entertaining.
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He'll have no problem with the first three. That forth guy, though, can be a problem at times.
 
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