Meles
Bionic Poster
Please don't doom this superior talent to the mediocrity of Bresnik tennis.
Vienna Calling
The Shape Of Things To Come: Denis Shapovalov!
- Thread starter stringertom
- Start date
Vienna Calling
Joseph_K
Hall of Fame
A rather ignominious first round loss today in Leon for Shapo, who was beaten 6-2, 6-3 by world no. 321 Liam Broady. The young Canadian had great difficulty holding serve throughout the match and made little impression on his opponent's serve in either set. He did, however, have a couple of break points in the very last game of the match, but couldn't convert either of them, and that was that.
J.
J.
PeteD
Legend
Oh well. He ran himself down playing so much the last few weeks.
tennis08tarheels
Hall of Fame
After dropping the first set 6-2 Shapovalov yelled to himself (very loudly) that Broady was "terrible." When Broady won match point he celebrated, a lot, in Shapovalov's direction. A few verbal jabs were thrown back and forth at the net, which looked like it was started by Denis saying something about Broady's excessive celebration. I really like watching Denis play but my take would be that it's not his place to tell anyone on tour how to carry themselves, a) because of his age and b) because of the obvious incident that he was involved in. But mostly his age. I'm not saying young players need to just be pushovers, but older/more mature players aren't going to take well to being coached on on-court behavior by a 17-year old who's mostly known for hitting an umpire in the eyeball.
tennis08tarheels
Hall of Fame
gogo
Legend
That's very disappointing behaviour by Denis. It's one thing to lose your temper at your own play, but another to criticize your opponent. Totally unacceptable and I hope that his coach shakes some sense into him. Tennis Canada won't be happy with Shapo unless he starts to get control of his emotions.
mule250
Professional
Agreed, definitely not cool. Why would he feel the need to insult his opponent? If he feels that way (that his opponent is "terrible") then get mad at himself for losing to him. I hope can rein himself in as it looks like he has a good future in front of himself. I personally find it hard to cheer for someone that acts like that though.
tennis08tarheels
Hall of Fame
1:45 for "C'mon, this guy is terrible!" remark
stringertom
Bionic Poster
I suggest a trip home to Vaughan/Richmond Hill and a nice firm lecture from Mama Tessa might be in order shortly before his 18th birthday. She might pull up a picture of the Kipling quote all Centre Court Wimbledon contestants see just before entering the court grounds and ask Denis to adhere to that policy.
gogo
Legend
Exactly!!
The other person he doesn't want to disappoint is Felix. He should consider how the people he cares about will look at him.
okdude1992
Hall of Fame
Pretty bad loss, but I wouldn't read much into it after the amount of tennis he's played recently.
Insulting the opponent is really messed up though. Broady's reaction was appropriate. I would've probably done the same thing.
Insulting the opponent is really messed up though. Broady's reaction was appropriate. I would've probably done the same thing.
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Meles
Bionic Poster
Meles
Bionic Poster
Gogo what have you created?
Beacon Hill
Hall of Fame
Shapovalov is becoming unlikeable.
gogo
Legend
Are the young Canucks going to go the way of the young Aussies?
Don't even go there. I can't bear the thought!!
It's possible for Shapo, but I think (hope) he's still redeemable due to his young age and that he actually wants to be liked.
I can't possibly imagine FAA going that way. He just doesn't have it in him. Too nice. Too respectful.
NaomiKonjuhPotapova
G.O.A.T.
Boo Shapovalov, Cmon FAA mature already!
gogo
Legend
Don't give up on Shapo quite yet. Let's give him a couple of other minor chances and a couple of more years to mature. Once he's 20 he has no excuses. Of course if he starts a downward spiral from here, then there's the sign.
I really do think he wants to be good, but his impulses betray him. When he's got time to think he's fine. When he doesn't, he goes to his "natural state". He needs to harness his emotions.
After that....well, he deserves what he gets.
tennis08tarheels
Hall of Fame
And we're back. Tallahassee R1 against Vincent Millot who has one of the strangest-looking backhands I've seen. Millot played deep into this week's Sarasota Challenger, beating Jared Donaldson before being taken to the woodshed by the moustached maniac Tennys Sandgren 6-4, 6-1.
Shapovalov could meet Roberto Quiroz in the QF and possibly Tiafoe in the semis, but I think Quiroz will eventually take the title.
Shapovalov could meet Roberto Quiroz in the QF and possibly Tiafoe in the semis, but I think Quiroz will eventually take the title.
AceSalvo
Legend
Kid's got a darn good aim.
stringertom
Bionic Poster
Quiroz has upped his game this past year. Both he and Shapo played the Vero Futures this week in '16 and neither made the finals.
Meles
Bionic Poster
tennis08tarheels
Hall of Fame
Or, you know, lose in straights in the first round.
Tiafoe pulled out, by the way. No indication yet on whether that was inspired by the couple who interrupted his match last week.
tennis08tarheels
Hall of Fame
When you break four times but can't even win a set:
Edit: in all seriousness though, nice to see DS gracious in defeat.
Edit: in all seriousness though, nice to see DS gracious in defeat.
In my opinion, that first comment about Broady's play being terrible is the most despicable of all the things mentioned here. That's just something you don't do.
Joseph_K
Hall of Fame
No luck for Shapo today in his first round match at the Tallahassee Challenger, which is played on clay. He was beaten by the 31-year-old Frenchman Vicent Millot (highest singles ranking: no. 135) in two sets, 7-5, 7-6(3).
As the score indicates, both sets were close. There were several breaks of serve in each set, a pattern being that one break was usually followed by another. The exception to this rule occurred at the end of the first set.
At 6-5, 30-30, with Millot seving, Shapo was two points from winning the second set, but lost the next two points and a tiebreak that ended in a one-sided manner.
The much more experienced Millot played somewhat more solidly overall, while Shapo was clearly frustrated at not being able to impose himself on the match that little bit more, which would probably have made the difference for him between defeat and victory.
J.
As the score indicates, both sets were close. There were several breaks of serve in each set, a pattern being that one break was usually followed by another. The exception to this rule occurred at the end of the first set.
At 6-5, 30-30, with Millot seving, Shapo was two points from winning the second set, but lost the next two points and a tiebreak that ended in a one-sided manner.
The much more experienced Millot played somewhat more solidly overall, while Shapo was clearly frustrated at not being able to impose himself on the match that little bit more, which would probably have made the difference for him between defeat and victory.
J.
stringertom
Bionic Poster
Service stats were horrible...under 50%, just one ace and half a dozen DFs is not a normal Shapo performance.
Mainad
Bionic Poster
Sounds like Denis still has a lot of growing up to do.
stringertom
Bionic Poster
18 years, 11 days old...he has time on his side.
Mainad
Bionic Poster
Joseph_K
Hall of Fame
Shapo's recent run of poor form continued earlier today when he was beaten in the first round of the Savannah Challenger by the Irishman James McGee, in three sets, 3-6, 7-6(6), 6-4.
This must have been an even more frustrating loss for the young Canadian than his first round loss last week to Vincent Millot in the Tallahassee Challenger. After taking the first set today, Shapo led 6-5, 30-0 on his own serve in the second set, only to be broken.
In the ensuing tiebreak Shapo recovered from 3-5 to lead 6-5, match point, with McGee serving. Shapo hit a forehand out in the next rally and, after the change of ends, made another forehand error while serving at 6-7.
In the final set James McGee won three games from 2-3 behind to lead 5-3. In the next game Shapo led 40-0, but almost lost his serve again. Leading by 5 games to 4 the Irishman made no mistake in serving out to love for a place in the second round.
J.
This must have been an even more frustrating loss for the young Canadian than his first round loss last week to Vincent Millot in the Tallahassee Challenger. After taking the first set today, Shapo led 6-5, 30-0 on his own serve in the second set, only to be broken.
In the ensuing tiebreak Shapo recovered from 3-5 to lead 6-5, match point, with McGee serving. Shapo hit a forehand out in the next rally and, after the change of ends, made another forehand error while serving at 6-7.
In the final set James McGee won three games from 2-3 behind to lead 5-3. In the next game Shapo led 40-0, but almost lost his serve again. Leading by 5 games to 4 the Irishman made no mistake in serving out to love for a place in the second round.
J.
tennis08tarheels
Hall of Fame
Denis struggling to find his game on clay. Three straight first round losses now. Still glad to see him toned down a bit and showing good sportsmanship.
stringertom
Bionic Poster
Shapo down early to Cecchinato, 5-3 serving for the set. Only six points lost on serve but he bunched them in the break game. A couple of long deuce games on the Italian serve but zero break opportunities.
stringertom
Bionic Poster
Shapo down and now out, 3&4. Again, an early break conceded and just one opportunity to break back at the end of the match but no luck.
At least this was a match he was in from a server perspective except for the two bad games.
At least this was a match he was in from a server perspective except for the two bad games.
Joseph_K
Hall of Fame
Shapo's first round match earlier today in the qualifying for the men's singles draw at this year's French Open could be divided into three parts.
In part one Shapo dropped serve four times in a row while losing the first eight games and going 0-6, 0-2 down. In the first set he can't have won much more than six points.
In part two Shapo's holding serve for the first time in the third game of the second set signalled an improvement in his play which lasted until 2-2 in the third set. During this stage of the match, he broke the top-seeded Romanian's serve twice and played solidly in his own service games.
In part three the young Canadian's form dipped again while Copil was once again the better player, taking for four games in a row from 2-2 in the third set. The final score was 6-0, 4-6, 6-2.
J.
In part one Shapo dropped serve four times in a row while losing the first eight games and going 0-6, 0-2 down. In the first set he can't have won much more than six points.
In part two Shapo's holding serve for the first time in the third game of the second set signalled an improvement in his play which lasted until 2-2 in the third set. During this stage of the match, he broke the top-seeded Romanian's serve twice and played solidly in his own service games.
In part three the young Canadian's form dipped again while Copil was once again the better player, taking for four games in a row from 2-2 in the third set. The final score was 6-0, 4-6, 6-2.
J.
gogo
Legend
I just don't think clay suits Denis' playing style. He's too loosey-goosey and doesn't play a tight enough game style to control his body and get ready for the next shot. Perhaps he will learn this over time, but I am a bit skeptical.
Before we jump to the hard court season....Shapo did do very well on grass last year, winning both the Wimbledon Jr warm up tourney and Wimbledon Jr. itself. Was it just due to lack of competition? It would be surprising to see him do well right away on the pro circuit on grass with so little exposure to that surface, but perhaps down the road he will do well on grass.
ETA: One more comment. I was impressed that Denis kept his cool today, even though he was playing terribly for quite a stretch. When he won his first game (which wasn't until the second set) the crowd cheered and Denis waved and grinned good naturedly. He will be a crowd pleaser so I do hope he has a successful career.
stringertom
Bionic Poster
I think he will be fine but not his best on clay...remember he lost a very tight 3-setter SF in the boy's RG'16 draw to eventual champion Blancaneaux and that was his last clay competition until this last brief stint (0-4) trying to prep for RG main draw. He was a very impressive 39-8 on clay in late'15-early'16, mostly on the American HarTru Futures tour.
Joseph_K
Hall of Fame
A good win for Shapo earlier this afternoon in the final round of qualifying for the Surbiton Challenger. The Canadian was up against the Australian Alex De Minaur, whom Shapo defeated in three sets in the final of the boys' singles event at Wimbledon last year.
Today's match also went to three sets, with Shapo taking the first, 6-4, before going up an early break in the second and leading 3-2 with his serve to follow. At that point the complexion of the match started to change completely as De Minaur began a run of six straight games that took him to 2-0 in the third set.
Both players then held serve to 3-1 before the look of the match began to change completely again as Shapo in succesive games held, broke, held again, broke again and held again one last time to take the final set and the match, 6-4, 3-6, 6-3.
J.
Today's match also went to three sets, with Shapo taking the first, 6-4, before going up an early break in the second and leading 3-2 with his serve to follow. At that point the complexion of the match started to change completely as De Minaur began a run of six straight games that took him to 2-0 in the third set.
Both players then held serve to 3-1 before the look of the match began to change completely again as Shapo in succesive games held, broke, held again, broke again and held again one last time to take the final set and the match, 6-4, 3-6, 6-3.
J.
RacquetAbuse101
Semi-Pro
A tall order for young Shapo.
gogo
Legend
A tall order for young Shapo.
Literally.
Get A Grip
Hall of Fame
Well he just beat Reilly.
I asked this question elsewhere on these threads, didn't get an answer so I'll ask it here:
Who do you think has more upside Denis or Felix? Who would you pick to have the bigger career?
Is it maybe a matter of Denis on grass, Felix on hard? I haven't watched either enough to say myself, think Felix, maybe ...
I asked this question elsewhere on these threads, didn't get an answer so I'll ask it here:
Who do you think has more upside Denis or Felix? Who would you pick to have the bigger career?
Is it maybe a matter of Denis on grass, Felix on hard? I haven't watched either enough to say myself, think Felix, maybe ...
vernonbc
Legend
It's a hard call when they're both so young. So many things can happen right or wrong and young kids who were shining stars can fizzle out very quickly. I personally think FAA has better basics and a better grasp of the game and that all important better movement but Shapo is no doubt very dynamic and bold and strong and might surprise everyone. I worry a wee bit about FAA's health as he's had some problems but those could just be growing pains and his handlers might still be holding him back from playing too much. Who knows? Just enjoy watching and cheering for them both.
Get A Grip
Hall of Fame
It's a hard call when they're both so young. So many things can happen right or wrong and young kids who were shining stars can fizzle out very quickly. I personally think FAA has better basics and a better grasp of the game and that all important better movement but Shapo is no doubt very dynamic and bold and strong and might surprise everyone. I worry a wee bit about FAA's health as he's had some problems but those could just be growing pains and his handlers might still be holding him back from playing too much. Who knows? Just enjoy watching and cheering for them both.
Yes, I'm super excited to have two amazing up and coming Canadians.
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