Shapovalov explains the injury that forced him to withdraw in Montreal

It's a very bitter blow that Denis Shapovalov has faced today after being unable to even finish his first match in the singles draw. The Canadian reached a third set against Zachary Svajda, but it was there that his body said enough.

What happened to Denis Shapovalov? Why was he forced to withdraw from one of the most important tournaments on his calendar? Was it perhaps not the best decision to compete in the Masters 1000 in Montreal after reaching the finals in Los Cabos just days ago? Many questions on the table that the Canadian addressed with the press after leaving the court in the third set against the American (4-6, 6-4, 3-0).

An ankle injury led to Shapovalov's withdrawal

“I've been dealing with an ankle injury since the final in Los Cabos. It seems I twisted it or injured it during that match. It's been a very painful few days, and the travel didn't help either. Of course, playing in Canada, I wanted to do everything possible to compete in front of my people, but unfortunately, I couldn't make it to the end. I started to notice that other parts of my body were also becoming strained. I felt muscle tension, discomfort in my hamstrings, in my quadriceps and even in my knee. It was all a consequence of compensating for the ankle pain. It's frustrating, but now it's time to regroup, recover, and I hope to be ready for Cincinnati.”

The effort to play in front of the Canadian crowd

“I wasn't feeling good from the start. I've had this problem since the final in Los Cabos and I've been in a lot of pain. Even today, during the warm-up, we didn't know if I would be able to play. We were trying to see how the ankle would respond. Still, I wanted to make an effort for the fans. It's a very special tournament for me and I wanted to get on the court and give my best. Unfortunately, my body deteriorated and ultimately told me I couldn't go on.”

A year marked by physical problems

“It's been a very complicated year. I had gained good momentum in Indian Wells and was playing well. Then came Miami and from there the injuries started. Even in weeks like Munich, when it seemed I was finding my rhythm again, pains and discomfort would crop up that halted everything. It's been one thing after another, and that is very frustrating. Still, I played Wimbledon with a fractured rib and here I competed with a completely swollen ankle. I keep fighting and I’m still close to the level of these players. Last week, in Los Cabos, I felt very good and achieved a great result. The key for me is to find time to recover and arrive healthy at the tournaments.”

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The demands of the ATP calendar

“The current circuit is very unforgiving. There are hardly any weeks where you can truly stop, rest, and recover. It's very tough. We must keep moving forward, but I may need to start making tougher decisions and prioritize my body. Jack Draper, for example, has recently had to do this, and maybe I should too. I know that when I'm healthy and can play consistently, I'm capable of delivering a very high level. That is the priority.”

Does Shapovalov regret playing in Montreal?

“Yes, looking at how my body ended up today, it probably wasn't the best decision to step on the court. But it was a decision I made after talking with my team and with all the information I had. I wanted to try and see how my ankle would respond. Now we will have to reassess the situation. I need to rest, recover from all the discomfort I experienced during the match, and I hope to be ready for Cincinnati. If not, we will have to reconsider what to do.”

This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Shapovalov explica la lesión que le obligó a retirarse en Montreal