Shapovalov and his most sincere confession: "Federer made me feel like a junior"

Fernando Murciego | 25 Jun 2026 | 12.00

Shapovalov and his most sincere confession: "Federer made me feel like a junior." Source: Getty

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Denis Shapovalov has never been a conventional tennis player. Owner of one of the most spectacular styles on the circuit, the Canadian reflected on his career in a conversation with Sam Querrey and shared some interesting thoughts about the big names in tennis, his toughest moments, and the experiences that shaped his journey.

One of the most striking moments in the interview came when he talked about Roger Federer. Despite the Swiss being his great inspiration during childhood, the only encounter between them left an indelible impression on the Canadian.

"I only played once against Roger, and he played with me as he wanted. He made me feel like a junior on the court," he confessed with laughter as he recalled that semifinal in Miami. Shapovalov explained that he deeply admired Federer from a young age, especially for sharing the one-handed backhand and an offensive philosophy of the game. "I always wanted to play aggressively like him," he acknowledged in the conversation offered by ATP.

However, when asked about the toughest opponent of his career, the answer leaves no room for doubt: Novak Djokovic. The Canadian admits that he has not yet found the formula to defeat the Serbian. "I have had many close matches against him, but I have never managed to cross the finish line," he pointed out. In fact, he especially remembered the Wimbledon 2021 semifinal, the best Grand Slam of his career, where he seriously believed he could win the tournament.

"Although before the match, I thought I would have few opportunities, during the first set, I felt like I was outplaying Novak," he explained. He even took the lead on the scoreboard and said that at times, he felt he was playing better than the best grass-court player at that time. "Perhaps I was too confident. I lost that first set, and that changed everything." To this day, he still considers that defeat as one of those necessary experiences for growth.

Interestingly, the Big3 member he felt most comfortable against was Rafael Nadal. Despite the multiple losses suffered against the Spaniard, Shapovalov claims he perfectly understood how to approach those matches. "I knew what he was going to do and how to hurt him," he explained. The Canadian recalled his victories against Nadal in Montreal and on clay courts, as well as other encounters where he had real chances to prevail. "When he played at his best level, there was nothing to do, but I felt I had options against him."

Denis Shapovalov and Roger Federer in a match they had some years ago. Source: Getty

Another topic that arose during the conversation was his famous suspension one-handed backhand, one of the most spectacular shots on the circuit. Far from being a studied technique, it was born almost by accident. He explained that he started executing it during a junior tournament to relieve some knee discomfort and later began using it as a joke during training sessions. Everything changed in Shanghai when he performed one in the middle of a match, and the audience reacted enthusiastically. "The crowd went crazy, and I thought: I'm going to try another one." The next one ended up as a winning shot, and the rest is history.

Denis Shapovalov trusts he will soon regain his best form

There was also space to talk about his competitive resurgence. Although many might think his most special title was Dallas, where he defeated several top-level players, Shapovalov chose another moment. For him, the Belgrade tournament had a much deeper meaning. "I was coming back from an injury, it had been a very tough year, and I managed to win the tournament after going through the qualifying rounds," he recalled. That victory marked an emotional and competitive turning point that later allowed him to string together successes.

Finally, putting himself in a fan's shoes, he had no hesitation in choosing the player for whom he would buy a front-row ticket. The answer was Carlos Alcaraz. "He is so fun to watch. He always does something incredible in every match," he stated. Shapovalov acknowledges that the Spaniard has surpassed him in their direct confrontations but also admits that he has rarely seen such a spectacular level on the other side of the net. Amid anecdotes, admiration for the legends, and self-criticism, Shapovalov showed a sincere version of himself. A conversation that makes it clear that, beyond his talent, he remains one of the most transparent and charismatic players on the ATP circuit.

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Shapovalov y su confesión más sincera: "Federer me hizo sentir como un júnior"

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