Shapovalov confident heading into US Open qualifying, but knows he has room to grow
MONTREAL — Rising Canadian tennis star Denis Shapovalov knows not every week will replicate the magic of his Rogers Cup semifinal run.
The 18-year-old shot from 143rd to 67th in the ATP singles rankings following last week’s tournament, but said he still needs to improve before he’s consistently at the top level.
“It was one incredible week but I still feel like I’m the same guy I was when I was (ranked) 140 and I have a lot of work to do to secure my spot in that position and keep moving forward,” he told a news conference in Montreal on Thursday before he heads to New York to play in next week’s U.S. Open qualifying tournament.
The left-handed teen from Richmond Hill, Ont., introduced himself to Canada last week with an exhilarating performance that included a victory over top-seeded Spanish legend Rafael Nadal.