Shapovalov et sa confession la plus sincère : "Federer m'a fait sentir comme un junior"

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Denis Shapovalov has never been a conventional tennis player. Possessing one of the most spectacular styles on the circuit, the Canadian reviewed his career in a conversation with Sam Querrey and shared several interesting reflections on tennis greats, his toughest moments, and the experiences that shaped his trajectory.

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

"I only played against Roger once, and he played with me as he pleased. He made me feel like a junior on the court," he confessed with laughter when recalling that semifinal in Miami. Shapovalov explained that he deeply admired Federer since he was young, 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 chat given by ATP.

However, when asked about the toughest rival in 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 particularly recalled 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 I was outplaying Novak," he explained. He even took the lead in the score and stated 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 everything changed there." To this day, he still considers that defeat as one of those necessary experiences for growth.

Interestingly, the Big3 member with whom he felt most comfortable was Rafael Nadal. Despite the multiple defeats suffered against the Spaniard, Shapovalov assures that 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 matches 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."

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

Denis Shapovalov is confident in regaining his best form soon

There was also room to talk about his competitive resurgence. Although many might think his most special title was in Dallas, where he defeated several top 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 did not hesitate to choose the player for whom he would buy a front-row ticket. The answer was Carlos Alcaraz. "He is so much fun to watch. He always does something incredible in every match," he affirmed. Shapovalov acknowledges that the Spaniard has outperformed him in their direct encounters, but he also admits that he has rarely seen such spectacular play on the other side of the net. Amid anecdotes, admiration for 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.

Cette actualité est une traduction automatique. Vous pouvez lire la nouvelle originale Shapovalov y su confesión más sincera: "Federer me hizo sentir como un júnior"