I don't understand this about Shapovalov

  • Thread starter Thread starter Robert Baratheon
  • Start date Start date
R

Robert Baratheon

Guest
Why the hype about this guy?
He has done absolutely nothing at all to deserve it.
Whenever there is talk about the next gen on a thread I see people bringing up Shapovalov along with guys like Tsitsipas and Zverev who themselves are nothing too special but this guy Shapo is not even close to them.

It's baffling to me that so many people expect him to step up.
There are always comments like these:
"I don't think Shapo is ready right now."
"Shapo will win slams someday."
"Shapo is really talented."

And I don't understand how he is supposed to be ready to win slams with that ROS and with that inconsistent game which is highly error prone.

Like why are we even putting this guy's name in the list of people we expect to win something when the Big3 leave the spoils for the rest of them?
It just doesn't make any sense.

What has he done except beating Nadal 2 years ago?
 
Reached three masters semifinals and got to the top 30 before turning 20. He’s also had wins over Del Potro, Cilic, Tsonga, and Tsitsipas besides Nadal. It’s pretty straightforward why that makes him look promising.

He’s definitely had a disastrous clay and grass seasons this year, though.
 
Last edited:
He beat Nadal, he also beat Del Potro that same week, he then gave Tsonga a lesson at the US Open right after as part of a good run to the 4th round, which for a guy who had just turned 18 was a pretty impressive bunch of results.

Obviously since then he has plateaued big time, but I'd say most of the hype comes from that period of potential, coupled with his desire to play a more attacking brand of tennis which looked like it was all but gone from the future of the game when he started making waves.

Clearly the guy has a lot more to work on in his game, but he is just 20. We can appreciate that is very young, right? No need to put him out to pasture before he's even hit drinking age.
 
Max G. said:
Reached three masters semifinals and got to the top 30 before turning 20. It’s pretty straightforward why that makes him look promising.
Click to expand...
Karen Khachanov won a freakin masters finals and I don't see them talking as much about him as they talk about this guy Shapo.
Reaching a semifinals in a masters these days is no special feat I think.

Chung reached Semis of a slam and he has been GOD knows where ever since.
Tennys freakin Sandgren had a deep run.
Anybody can do it these days and still amount to nothing in the grand scheme of things.

Shapo has no consistency whatsoever.
He can play out of his ass for a few matches in a row and reach a masters semi or something and then get beaten brutally in those but winning a slam is a different thing altogether.

It's not even about whether he will be able to do it in the future or not.
It's about him showing signs of it now or not.
And he is clearly not.
Then why so much talk? Nauseating stuff.
If he does something worth talking then get on with it, I won't make threads about it but right now it just doesn't make sense.

And it's not entirely about the talk happening about a certain player either, it's about the nature of that talk.
"He is the next big thing."
Yeah sure.

It brings the collective IQ(whatever's left of it) of the forum down when we hype players who don't deserve the hype.
 
The pressure, my friend, the pressure.
The champions distinguish themselves from good players in how the former see it as a common stimulus and opportunity to continue improving.
The latter simply become anxious and do not bear tremendous emotional load that prevents them from demonstrating their full capacity.
Denis Shapovalov lost to No. 77 Ricardas Berankis in straight sets at Wimbledon on Tuesday and now has dropped nine of 11 matches. ''It's more mental than anything,'' the 20-year-old revealed afterwards. ''In practices my level has been showing up ... I have to learn, grow a little bit, just talk to some people and figure it out ... I'm just not showing up in the big moments as of late.''

Maybe a sports psychologist is the solution for the young Canadian.
8-B
 
ibbi said:
He beat Nadal, he also beat Del Potro that same week, he then gave Tsonga a lesson at the US Open right after as part of a good run to the 4th round, which for a guy who had just turned 18 was a pretty impressive bunch of results.

Obviously since then he has plateaued big time, but I'd say most of the hype comes from that period of potential, coupled with his desire to play a more attacking brand of tennis which looked like it was all but gone from the future of the game when he started making waves.

Clearly the guy has a lot more to work on in his game, but he is just 20. We can appreciate that is very young, right? No need to put him out to pasture before he's even hit drinking age.
Click to expand...
Nah I can appreciate that he beat Nadal and I especially liked the way he did it.
But the thing is that he has huge issues.
Issues that usually don't get resolved once you turn pro.
He has outbursts of brilliance much like a Tsonga or a Fognini or someone. He hasn't exactly proved himself to have a champion's qualities i.e. a high level base game.

And that is exactly why the hype seems utterly stupid.
 
I think he's the prime example of a young player who peaked at a few events and shows absolutely no consistency of any kind. He made a name for himself in Montreal in 2017 when he beat Nadal/Del Potro but he's done little since. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy his offensive game and I would like to see him become a top guy as he's fun to watch, but if you look at the last 2 years, he's made little improvements and his shot selection/defense/return game still needs major rework if he's to become a regular top guy.
 
Fridge said:
He doesn't have the mental stability or game to succeed. He hits the ball way too hard and collapses during important stretches of the match. He is a solid top 70 player but won't win any slams unless he makes some big changes
Click to expand...
I think he was just on fire when he had that great run in August/September 2017. And he was a newcomer so opponents had not figured him out. He brings explosiveness and firepower but it's too inconsistent and he has not shown great precision or mental strength either. He is still young and there are other youngsters like FAA and Tsitsipas who are bearing the expectation of success so I think he is actually in a good spot to be patient, refine his game and get to that top level.

Zverev for instance has been unlucky. Granted I don't like his playing style but he had heaps of expectation placed on him (which he welcomed at the time) but now that he's falling short, there's been a snowball effect where he feels pressure just make it past 1R matches let alone try to win a tournament. Shapo won't have to face this since the expectations are not high.
 
Robert Baratheon said:
Why the hype about this guy?
He has done absolutely nothing at all to deserve it.
Whenever there is talk about the next gen on a thread I see people bringing up Shapovalov along with guys like Tsitsipas and Zverev who themselves are nothing too special but this guy Shapo is not even close to them.

It's baffling to me that so many people expect him to step up.
There are always comments like these:
"I don't think Shapo is ready right now."
"Shapo will win slams someday."
"Shapo is really talented."

And I don't understand how he is supposed to be ready to win slams with that ROS and with that inconsistent game which is highly error prone.

Like why are we even putting this guy's name in the list of people we expect to win something when the Big3 leave the spoils for the rest of them?
It just doesn't make any sense.

What has he done except beating Nadal 2 years ago?
Click to expand...
Rod Laver picked him to be the next dominant player in tennis. Being the GOAT's Chosen One is hype enough.
 
King No1e said:
Rod Laver picked him to be the next dominant player in tennis. Being the GOAT's Chosen One is hype enough.
Click to expand...
Rod Laver about Djokodal AO final 2019:
"It will be a close tussle. I’m leaning towards Nadal – but for no reason."

Rod Laver about Djokovic's chance against Nadal at the FO 2019:
“He’s got a good chance to do it. He played so unbelievably well against Nadal in the Australian Open. I’m thinking, ‘How can anybody do that?"
 
Robert Baratheon said:
Rod Laver about Djokodal AO final 2019:
"It will be a close tussle. I’m leaning towards Nadal – but for no reason."

Rod Laver about Djokovic's chance against Nadal at the FO 2019:
“He’s got a good chance to do it. He played so unbelievably well against Nadal in the Australian Open. I’m thinking, ‘How can anybody do that?"
Click to expand...
1. "Congrats Nadal on 18th Slam"
2. "Congrats Djokovic on 16th Slam"
 
Robert Baratheon said:
Why the hype about this guy?
What has he done except beating Nadal 2 years ago?
Click to expand...

I'm a Denis fan but I have to admit, you make some excellent points to which I have no answer. I still think he can evolve into a great player, but he's regressed since the summer of 2017, that's for sure. The hardcore Denis fans will say it's poor coaching, but I'm unsure about that. I will say he's very fit, works hard and does not tire in matches. That's something positive and not true of all the young players.

There's tons of hype about Felix too and no results. I like them both and hope for great careers in the future.
 
Robert Baratheon said:
Why the hype about this guy?
He has done absolutely nothing at all to deserve it.
Whenever there is talk about the next gen on a thread I see people bringing up Shapovalov along with guys like Tsitsipas and Zverev who themselves are nothing too special but this guy Shapo is not even close to them.

It's baffling to me that so many people expect him to step up.
There are always comments like these:
"I don't think Shapo is ready right now."
"Shapo will win slams someday."
"Shapo is really talented."

And I don't understand how he is supposed to be ready to win slams with that ROS and with that inconsistent game which is highly error prone.

Like why are we even putting this guy's name in the list of people we expect to win something when the Big3 leave the spoils for the rest of them?
It just doesn't make any sense.

What has he done except beating Nadal 2 years ago?
Click to expand...
Denis Shapovalov

GODS WHAT A STUPID NAME
 
r2473 said:
Because he looks like a young Axel Rose
Click to expand...
Denis is cuter.

gjq5z7sk.jpg
56266970_2331152666937179_6357213519095681617_n.jpg
 
Robert Baratheon said:
Rod Laver about Djokodal AO final 2019:
"It will be a close tussle. I’m leaning towards Nadal – but for no reason."

Rod Laver about Djokovic's chance against Nadal at the FO 2019:
“He’s got a good chance to do it. He played so unbelievably well against Nadal in the Australian Open. I’m thinking, ‘How can anybody do that?"
Click to expand...


The GOAT has lapses once in awhile, you know?
;)
 
Robert Baratheon said:
Why the hype about this guy?
He has done absolutely nothing at all to deserve it.
Whenever there is talk about the next gen on a thread I see people bringing up Shapovalov along with guys like Tsitsipas and Zverev who themselves are nothing too special but this guy Shapo is not even close to them.

It's baffling to me that so many people expect him to step up.
There are always comments like these:
"I don't think Shapo is ready right now."
"Shapo will win slams someday."
"Shapo is really talented."

And I don't understand how he is supposed to be ready to win slams with that ROS and with that inconsistent game which is highly error prone.

Like why are we even putting this guy's name in the list of people we expect to win something when the Big3 leave the spoils for the rest of them?
It just doesn't make any sense.

What has he done except beating Nadal 2 years ago?
Click to expand...
1. He got some results really early
2. He beat a godawful Nadal really young
3. Juan handed backhand
4. Canadian. Which, due to the lack of any shred of American talent makes him hyped in all of NA
5. Occasionally gets lost on a tennis court and does parody on volleys
 
Red Rick said:
Denis Shapovalov

GODS WHAT A STUPID NAME
Click to expand...

Oh I dunno, I quite like the name Denis. It rhymes with Menace. ;)

Not that Denis has proved to be much of a menace lately. He still has youth on his side but he seems to lack focus at the moment. Hopefully that will change before he gets too set in bad ways. :cool:
 
mbm0912 said:
I strongly disagree.
Click to expand...
I sat next to a booth where Axel was sitting with some roadies (I assume) at a restaurant in Pasadena in the late 80's. I'd been a moderate fan, but not after seeing him up close. He was rude to the waiter and not at all good looking up close. Whereas I've been within 2 feet of Denis and he's quite cute in person. Just my .02 cents. ;)
 
I couldn't agree more with what your saying

The regression thing is really bad, considering he's lost five matches and eleven sets in a row to;

Paire, Struff, Struff again, Del Potro, Berankis

Including knockout RG Rnd one 3/0, knockout AELTC Rnd one 3/0

These days if you want to catch him, you have to catch him early
He's lost more matches this year, than he has won
If you turn up 1 ½ hrs late into his first game somewhere, that could be a problem

I don't understand when he hits the ball, the balance is all over the place. He seems to be off balance falling over sideways on groundstrokes

And regressing at 20 is a big problem, not a small problem
Hype can cover up a small problem but it won't keep patching up a big ptoblem
 
He can’t beat anyone because he can’t maintain a rally. He does not no know how to play tennis. He is very easy to play against, just let him beat himself, especially with that inconsistent backhand.
 
^^This. Someone else said it above that he just knows only one speed, which is bludgeoning the ball and when he gets frustrated he just hits it harder. This concept is real. A good returner will just let him beat himself by giving the ball back to him and tiring him or forcing error. People like his style because his mechanics are flashy - but it's gotta be tiring, and inconsistent vs a compact and fluid mechanical motion like fed and others.

The mental thing is really big too. If he can't hold it together and "play the game", then he's toast. Tennis is not just baseline bashing as hard as you can.
 
People saw potential. And he is a let down at slams so far even though he reached SF at 3 M1000's. Just like Fed 01, 02.

Kid has another 2 years to prove something.
 
King No1e said:
Rod Laver picked him to be the next dominant player in tennis. Being the GOAT's Chosen One is hype enough.
Click to expand...
Robert Baratheon said:
Rod Laver about Djokodal AO final 2019:
"It will be a close tussle. I’m leaning towards Nadal – but for no reason."

Rod Laver about Djokovic's chance against Nadal at the FO 2019:
“He’s got a good chance to do it. He played so unbelievably well against Nadal in the Australian Open. I’m thinking, ‘How can anybody do that?"
Click to expand...

Rod is 88,
Give that man a break
 
HetTheGreaterer said:
Rod is 88,
Give that man a break
Click to expand...

o_O
Rod Laver won the Grand Slam in 1969 at the age of 31 years old.
Therefore, a few days after its birthday, "The Rocket" will be 81 years old.
It seems that lapses also happen in younger people!
:-D
 
Last edited:
King No1e said:
Hetr having a senior moment like Fedr did at 8-7 40-15
Click to expand...

The blow must have been so hard for him that he forgot the age of the man who made a great feat in tennis feasible: winning the Grand Slam.
In September, the 50th anniversary achieved by the legendary Rod Laver will be celebrated.
:)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

DRII
  • Poll Poll
Tsitsipas > Shapovalov!
Replies
25
Views
2K
prairiegirl
prairiegirl
W
Match Stats/Report - Djokovic vs Shapovalov, Paris final, 2019
Replies
1
Views
392
Jonesy
J
TheMaestro1990
El Shapo is THE next one
2 3
Replies
108
Views
6K
Legend of Borg
Legend of Borg
A
Wait..I don't understand!
Replies
13
Views
2K
TMF
T
M
I Don't Understand The Zverev Hype
2
Replies
78
Views
4K
MotoboXer
MotoboXer
Back
Top