The Canadian showcased his prowess at the tender age of 18, reaching the semi-finals of the 2017 Canadian Open following a triumph against Juan Martín del Potro and Rafael Nadal.
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One of the most defining characteristics of a player looking to go on and dominate the world, is the ability to deliver performances that showcase maturity beyond the years. Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Serena Williams are some examples of tennis stars who showcased their prowess at a young age, before going on to maintain the impact and reach the heights of success. Another name who could potentially go on to join the illustrious list is none other than Canadian Denis Shapovalov. Shapovalov was the youngest player to enter the top 10 world rankings in 2018, before going on to become only the second player from the nation to break into the top 10. The first tennis player to record the milestone was Milos Raonic. The Canadian showcased his prowess at the tender age of 18, reaching the semi-finals of the 2017 Canadian Open following a triumph against Juan Martín del Potro and Rafael Nadal.
Shapovalov has further built on the promise shown, following his triumph in the Stockholm Open in 2019. While the Canadian has not won a grand slam so far, he is the first player from the nation to reach the quarter-finals of the US Open, achieving the feat in 2020. Shapovalov further reached the semi-finals in the 2021 edition of the Wimbledon, with a triumph against two-time champion Andy Murray which is an indication of his ability to beat the best in the business on his day.
One of the most vital aspects of the Canadian’s gameplay is his dominance over backhand and forehand, with the player one of the very few to enjoy a one-handed backhand left topspin. The move has been used to great success by Shapovalov, with the tennis star inflicting a lot of damage on the opposition. The Canadian’s extremely dominant forehand further enables him to execute a winning move quite effectively, from any position.
Shapalov’s serve is also another valuable asset with the supreme power and accuracy enabling him to earn numerous free points. The Canadian is very fleet-footed and quick, enabling him to move across the court in a flowing manner. His stamina is a major asset as opponents struggle to wear him down. The left-hander is very aggressive in his approach and looks to take the game to the opposition rather than defending hard in his own zone. However, the biggest attribute in Shapovalov’s arsenal is his ambition and confidence, as evident from his statements in an exclusive interaction with ATP Tour.
Professional tennis player Peter Polansky is from Canada and has Czech ancestry. From June 21, 2010, to January 17, 2011, he ranked first in the ATP singles rankings for Canada. From August 4, 2008, to June 21, 2010, with one week’s exception, he was also Canada’s No. 2. He made history in 2018 when he qualified as a lucky loser for all four Grand Slam tournaments in the same year, making him the first player in the Open Era to do so. He is currently taking a break from professional competition to coach fellow Canadian Denis Shapovalov.
