Denis Shapovalov

Denis Shapovalov: The Natural Talent from Canada

Born on April 15, 1999, in Tel Aviv, Israel, tennis pro Denis Shapovalov — also known as “Shapo” — is regarded as one of the most promising talents in tennis. Before he turned one, his parents moved from Israel to Canada, having previously fled to Tel Aviv from the former Soviet Union, which was on the brink of collapse at the time. Shapovalov grew up in Vaughan, near Toronto. He first stepped onto a tennis court at just five years old, thanks to his mother, Tessa Shapovalova, a former national team player for the Soviet women's team who began working as a tennis coach in Canada.

He's now coached not only by his mother but also by former Russian pro Mikhail Youzhny. Communication is no problem, since he speaks fluent Russian alongside English. After a few years on the junior tour, he first played on the lower-tier Futures and Challenger circuits before finally making his ATP World Tour debut in 2016. Since late 2019, he's held an uninterrupted spot in the top 20, making him a consistent member of the extended world elite.

On the Path to Success Early On

Denis Shapovalov was already an extremely successful player on the junior tour. For example, in 2016 he won the Wimbledon boys' singles title against Australian Alex de Minaur, as well as the 2015 US Open boys' doubles title alongside fellow Canadian Felix Auger-Aliassime. He also celebrated numerous tournament wins at Futures and Challenger events. His first ATP World Tour match win came in 2016 at the Rogers Cup (Masters 1000, Canada), in the first round against Australian Nick Kyrgios. The following year, at the same tournament, Shapovalov truly turned heads in the tennis world by advancing all the way to the Masters semifinal. After breaking into the top 30 in 2018, he continued climbing the rankings the following year, into the world's top 20. This high point came on the back of some remarkable results, such as his first tour title at the 250-level event in Stockholm, where he beat Serbia's Filip Krajinović in two sets, and his run to the final at the Paris Masters.

Electrifying Shots as the Key to Success

The 1.85-meter-tall left-hander is known first and foremost for his powerful groundstrokes, which he can produce from almost any position on the court. A particular highlight Shapovalov brings to the table is his one-handed backhand, which he often takes on the rise while jumping into the shot, putting his opponents under even more pressure. Furthermore, on his advantage-side serve, being left-handed gives him the chance to push opponents wide off the court with an awkward slice serve, quickly securing the point.

Beyond his powerful groundstrokes and serve, the Canadian also has excellent touch in his game. This includes his backhand slice whenever he's forced onto defense, as well as his volleying skills, which help him close out points early. Something many people don't know: Denis Shapovalov is also a successful doubles player on the men's tour, as proven by his career-high ranking of No. 44.

High Risk Is the Name of the Game

As fast and high-risk as his forehand, backhand, and serve are, unforced errors and inconsistency also pile up in Shapovalov's game just as often, allowing his opponents to fight their way back into matches. Nonetheless, there's no denying that his style of play can leave opponents in despair when everything clicks. Because of his fast-paced game, Shapovalov prefers surfaces that play to his strengths — grass and hard courts.

The Biggest Achievements So Far in Denis Shapovalov's Tennis Career

Alongside his singles title in Stockholm in 2019, one of the highlights was his run at the Masters in Montreal (Rogers Cup, Canada) in 2017, where he advanced all the way to the semifinal, beating Juan Martín del Potro, the 2009 US Open champion, as well as clay-court king Rafael Nadal along the way. Remarkably, nine years before Denis Shapovalov shocked Rafael Nadal in the third round of the 2017 Rogers Cup, the young Canadian had served as a ball kid at the Spaniard's match against Igor Andreev. Since he was only 18 years old in 2017, this made him the youngest player ever to reach a semifinal in this tournament category.

He was also named “ATP Most Improved Player” thanks to his breakthrough in 2017. Another milestone in Shapovalov's career awaited him in 2019, when he helped lead Canada, alongside his compatriots, all the way to the Davis Cup final. The last time that had happened was 119 years earlier. In the final, however, the Canadians had to concede a clear defeat to the Spanish team led by Rafael Nadal. He also kept climbing steadily in the world rankings, reaching his career-best mark in September 2019, when he became the world No. 10.

Denis Shapovalov's Tennis Gear – Exclusively in the Tennis-Point Online Shop

Do you, like tennis star Denis Shapovalov, love fast-paced rallies? Then you've come to exactly the right place at Tennis-Point, because here you'll find all the gear that makes Shapovalov so successful too. “Shapo” trusts a racket from Yonex. For his strings — a “Poly Tour Strike” in the 1.25mm gauge — as well as his tennis bag, he likewise relies on a model from the Japanese manufacturer. When he takes to the big stage, he wears outfits and shoes from Nike. Whether it's shirts, training jackets, or headbands, a huge selection awaits you in our online shop.