Why some of us think Shapo is the next 'Maestro', in one shot

[Rosstour]

My God

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1305887850257215490

There is no one else on the tour who can hit this shot, with the possible exception of Federer...but he doesn't really do those donkey-leg shots.

 

[Breakpointerer]

Thought it would be this one

 

[jm1980]

My God

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1305887850257215490

There is no one else on the tour who can hit this shot, with the possible exception of Federer...but he doesn't really do those donkey-leg shots.

Such a dumb shot to attempt. He's doing it just for style points

 

[mike danny]

Thought it would be this one

Better accuracy than Fedr ever had.

 

[Slowtwitcher]

My God

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1305887850257215490

Shapo hit quite a few of those backhands on his match against PCB and they were mostly inconsequential. The sort of shot that gets you into the highlights but doesn't help you win matches.

 

[daggerman]

There is no one else on the tour who can hit this shot, with the possible exception of Federer...but he doesn't really do those donkey-leg shots.

I'd be pretty surprised if Thiem and Tsitsipas couldn't hit that shot. They just...don't.

 

[Slowtwitcher]

I'd be pretty surprised if Thiem and Tsitsipas couldn't hit that shot. They just...don't.

Thiem did hit that guerrilla smash at US Open. I said guerrilla, guys!!!

 

[ibbi]

Doesn't Monfils do this kind of stupid stuff all the time? I mean it's usually on the forehand side, but still. I feel like against some players on a sunny day on a clay court that might actually be a smart tactic considering how high that ball can bounce up

 

[mbm0912]

He's still a tool.

 

[Im(moral) Winner]

Wishful thinking

 

[Third Serve]

Does anyone else even attempt this shot as often as Shapo does?

 

[Red Rick]

Does anyone else even attempt this shot as often as Shapo does?

You mean once?

No.

But he's the only one who tries so he must be the only one who can right

 

[King No1e]

Such a dumb shot to attempt. He's doing it just for style points

Well, he rarely misses them. So it's not very low-percentage for him

 

[King No1e]

Does anyone else even attempt this shot as often as Shapo does?

Safin did it all the time. I wonder if that's where Shapovalov got the idea

 

[Nadal>>>>>Federer]

he is never going to win anything of importance. He is too hot headed and goes for too much on too many shots. Good players will be able to breakdown his game

 

[BeatlesFan]

Shapo may be many things but "Maestro" he is not. Fed is called Maestro because of his unsurpassed artistry and variety on court. There is literally no similarity in their games or style (and no, a one-handed BH doesn't count).

 

[Rubens]

If flashy shots were the most important factor in a player's success, the all-time Top 10 would be frenchmen.

 

[King No1e]

Shapo may be many things but "Maestro" he is not. Fed is called Maestro because of his unsurpassed artistry and variety on court. There is literally no similarity in their games or style (and no, a one-handed BH doesn't count).

Shapo definitely reminds me of a young Fed. They are both good all-court attackers with fluid strokes and go for too many low percentage shots (difference is that Fed always made them.)

 

[asifallasleep]

My God

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1305887850257215490

There is no one else on the tour who can hit this shot, with the possible exception of Federer...but he doesn't really do those donkey-leg shots.

Thiem can surely hit this shot and has hit many many similar ones. Monfils hits similar shots from all over the court all the time. I can even hit this shot. Kyrgios hits similar shots. Most guys on the tour can hit this shot. They just choose not to.

Wawrinka backhand rips are far far more impressive to me.

 

[asifallasleep]

Better accuracy than Fedr ever had.

I know, right...............Fed is just more accurate at winning. I think I'd take that option.

 

[Backspin1183]

My God

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1305887850257215490

There is no one else on the tour who can hit this shot, with the possible exception of Federer...but he doesn't really do those donkey-leg shots.

Amazing talent.
The next Kyrgios.

 

[BeatlesFan]

Shapo definitely reminds me of a young Fed.

Since you weren't following young Fed or watching any of his matches when he was very young, we can consider the source.
There is nothing similar in their game, movement, strategy, skill set or anything else. Literally night and day.

 

[Slowtwitcher]

Shapo reminds me of a Rios on Aderall

 

[Tshooter]

Doesn't Monfils do this kind of stupid stuff all the time? I mean it's usually on the forehand side, but still. I feel like against some players on a sunny day on a clay court that might actually be a smart tactic considering how high that ball can bounce up

I thought that was the point. He's the rightful heir to Monfils.

 

[Sysyphus]

He's the Dimitrov of his generation

 

[BillKid]

For now Shapo is more reminiscent of Henri Leconte than Federer. We will see his future. I really like him but I m a bit skeptical about Shapo becoming number 1.

 

[TheGhostOfAgassi]

Federer got the better style for me
Shapo doesn’t swoon me w that, too inconsistent.
And I don’t think Shapo will be a force in slam finals either.

 

[onyxrose81]

Fed and Shap have OH backhands and that’s where the similarity ends.

This is a dumb shot that will land in 1 out of 50 times. But I guess some are easily impressed. There are still some who think Gasquet just needs a second wind in his career.

 

[fundrazer]

Fed and Shap have OH backhands and that’s where the similarity ends.

This is a dumb shot that will land in 1 out of 50 times. But I guess some are easily impressed. There are still some who think Gasquet just needs a second wind in his career.

He's actually pretty consistent with this jumping one.

 

[weakera]

Aesthetic AF

 

[Ray Mercer]

That was a beautiful shot. Shapo probably won’t build a consistent career but his style of play is the one that should be at the forefront of the sport. Baseline consistent grinding is the absolute worst style of play to watch and about as entertaining to watch as paint dry.

 

[mental midget]

he is never going to win anything of importance. He is too hot headed and goes for too much on too many shots. Good players will be able to breakdown his game

used to think that. thought he showed a lot of improvement in that regard in this tournament, strokes looked a lot more repeatable.

 

[Swingmaster]

Oh, come on. I can hit that shot with about a 37% success rate and I’m a piece of garbage. Federer can absolutely positively hit that shot if he wants. No harder than a jumping two hander. That being said, I like Shapo. Give him some time with General Youzhny and his game will develop into something a little more palatable to all the ball basher bashers on here. Just busting your balls ball basher bashers.

 

[King No1e]

Since you weren't following young Fed or watching any of his matches when he was very young, we can consider the source.
There is nothing similar in their game, movement, strategy, skill set or anything else. Literally night and day.

That is true, but I've seen plenty of young Federer matches in replay. And while Shapo hits harder and plays lower-percentage tennis, his strokes (FH and BH) do seem like they're modeled off of Federer's (his serve is completely different, though). He attacks the net more than most players, he has relaxed, fluid strokes which generate a good bit of spin, and he dictates play with the forehand really well. Obviously I'm not saying they're carbon copies, but Shapo definitely seems like he comes from the same school of tennis as Federer (to me and many others at least).

 

[TheNachoMan]

Shapo is more comparable to Gasquet than Fed

 

[Ash Tennis]

My God

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1305887850257215490

There is no one else on the tour who can hit this shot, with the possible exception of Federer...but he doesn't really do those donkey-leg shots.

There was a very small percent chance that it would go in. Must have been winning. Definitely for style points.

 

[King No1e]

Oh, come on. I can hit that shot with about a 37% success rate and I’m a piece of garbage. Federer can absolutely positively hit that shot if he wants. No harder than a jumping two hander. That being said, I like Shapo. Give him some time with General Youzhny and his game will develop into something a little more palatable to all the ball basher bashers on here. Just busting your balls ball basher bashers.

Can you absolutely blast it into the corner though? Or make it 90+% of the time like Denis does? That's a tough shot to pull off consistently, just like Safin's jumping 2HBH was.

 

[Swingmaster]

Can you absolutely blast it into the corner though? Or make it 90+% of the time like Denis does? That's a toough shot to pull off consistently, just like Safin's jumping 2HBH was.

No, I don’t think I’m as good as Shapo. Just saying, if I can do it, even crappily, Federer could do it if he chose to. Some people have argued on here that Fed can’t even hit an open stance backhand. Obviously, he can, he just never got into the habit of it.

 

[Ronaldorro]

I can hit it tbh, it's not THAT difficult. He's very good nonetheless.

 

[King No1e]

No, I don’t think I’m as good as Shapo. Just saying, if I can do it, even crappily, Federer could do it if he chose to. Some people have argued on here that Fed can’t even hit an open stance backhand. Obviously, he can, he just never got into the habit of it.

Well we know we can hit a half volley, open stance, with a single handed backhand. Last time we saw one of those, God was a boy.

 

[Hitman]

Why does he need to be the next Federer, Shapo is his own guy. He has that dynamic flair in his game that Federer has, but he has his own style, with elements of all the greats in there, Federer and Nadal included.

 

[Swingmaster]

Why does he need to be the next Federer, Shapo is his own guy. He has that dynamic flair in his game that Federer has, but he has his own style, with elements of all the greats in there, Federer and Nadal included.

He actually reminds me more of a young Axl Rose.

 

[King No1e]

Why does he need to be the next Federer, Shapo is his own guy. He has that dynamic flair in his game that Federer has, but he has his own style, with elements of all the greats in there, Federer and Nadal included.

Great post. Shapo isn't baby anyone. He's not Federer or Gasquet or Monfils. He's Denis Viktorovich Shapovalov.

 

[Rosstour]

I'd be pretty surprised if Thiem and Tsitsipas couldn't hit that shot. They just...don't.

Thiem? No way.

Tsits has done some impressive stuff but he doesn't have Shapo's extreme-sports movement style.

Doesn't Monfils do this kind of stupid stuff all the time?

Not coming over the ball with one hand.

Shapo definitely reminds me of a young Fed. They are both good all-court attackers with fluid strokes and go for too many low percentage shots (difference is that Fed always made them.)

I can even hit this shot.

Oh, come on. I can hit that shot with about a 37% success rate and I’m a piece of garbage.

I can hit it tbh, it's not THAT difficult.

I'm sorry, I don't know any of you guys IRL, but I feel 100% confident in saying that no, you cannot hit that shot. Not saying you can't occasionally make solid contact on an aerial one-hander (I have too) but it doesn't look like that, you're not getting that high, the ball isn't traveling that fast, and you aren't using it to hit a winner against one of the top 100 players in the world.

Why does he need to be the next Federer, Shapo is his own guy. He has that dynamic flair in his game that Federer has, but he has his own style, with elements of all the greats in there, Federer and Nadal included.

I didn't say next Fed. I said Maestro for a reason.

They both play the beautiful, attacking game. Tennis in the classic sense, updated for their times.

It was Laver, then Sampras, then Fed, it could be Shapo next. Obviously it won't be exactly like Fed, but it's good to know The Beautiful Game lives on.

 

[King No1e]

Thiem? No way.

Tsits has done some impressive stuff but he doesn't have Shapo's extreme-sports movement style.



Not coming over the ball with one hand.









I'm sorry, I don't know any of you guys IRL, but I feel 100% confident in saying that no, you cannot hit that shot. Not saying you can't occasionally make solid contact on an aerial one-hander (I have too) but it doesn't look like that, you're not getting that high, the ball isn't traveling that fast, and you aren't using it to hit a winner against one of the top 100 players in the world.



I didn't say next Fed. I said Maestro for a reason.

They both play the beautiful, attacking game. Tennis in the classic sense, updated for their times.

It was Laver, then Sampras, then Fed, it could be Shapo next. Obviously it won't be exactly like Fed, but it's good to know The Beautiful Game lives on.

Vive le Beau Jeu!

 

[Rosstour]

I mean, pause the video when both of his feet are at their highest. It's closer to 2ft than 1ft.

So ~2 ft off the ground, full extension, probably an 80+mph shot.

Sorry but no one on this forum is doing that.

 

[6august]

1. Shapovalov is basically a single-handed Verdasco.

2. Fred rarely hits a jumping backhand, especially in competitive matches. Actually I can't recall ANYONE.

 

[Bender]

I've seen Gasquet and even Federer do it too especially on ROS

 

[Rosstour]

I've seen Gasquet and even Federer do it too especially on ROS

So there is an interesting difference between Shapo's and these two.

Shapo's just generally looks more explosive. But looking closer there is a technical difference that's plain as day. Dimi and Thiem are landing on the same foot they are jumping off.

Shapo is getting so much more hang time and extension that he is coming down on the other foot.

 

[HetTheGreaterer]

Shapo may be many things but "Maestro" he is not. Fed is called Maestro because of his unsurpassed artistry and variety on court. There is literally no similarity in their games or style (and no, a one-handed BH doesn't count).

Will any young player ever impress you as much as our beloved Roger Federer did??