The crisp sound of the ball leaving Denis Shapovalov racquet fills the empty Arthur Ashe Stadium.
Only players and coaches are at this practice, featuring a rising Canadian tennis star and 20-time Grand Slam champion.
Shapovalov and Novak Djokovic blast balls back and forth. Mikhail Youzhny, Shapovalov’s coach, uploads a few clips to his Instagram story. They feature Shapovalov’s lefty serve, the blazing forehand and the speed of his signature one-handed backhand.
There’s an affinity for the dramatic when describing Shapovalov’s game. The fist pumps, the loud ‘come on’s’, the mid-air groundstrokes, are all on display during a "Shapo special." As the seventh-seed competes in the fifth US Open of his young career, he’s hoping that the electricity he exudes on the court translates to consistent performances in Grand Slams.
Shapovalov enters the 2021 US Open back in the Top 10 of the ATP rankings. The leap back occurred thanks to the Canadian’s stellar performance at Wimbledon. Shapovalov reached his first Grand Slam semifinal at the All-England Club, which included victories over 2012 US Open champion Andy Murray, 28th-ranked Karen Khachanov, and No. 21 in the world Roberto Bautista Agut. In the semis, Shapovalov put up a valiant effort against Djokovic, despite losing in straight sets. He acknowledged after the match how the bitter taste of defeat could set up him for future success in Slams.
"Now I know exactly what I'm capable of and where my game can be at and also the things I can improve to beat Novak next time or reach one step further,” Shapovalov said.
With the result at Wimbledon, Shapovalov was poised for a successful summer season as the tennis calendar transitioned to hard courts. He elected to skip the Olympics, instead preparing for the North American hard court circuit.
Shapovalov’s expectations fell short. In Toronto, an opening-round loss to American Frances Tiafoe. The same fate followed in Cincinnati, losing to Benoit Paire in the first round. Unforced errors and uncharacteristic mistakes defined both matches, as Shapovalov arrives in New York with only two hard court matches under his belt.
“I'm practicing good. I'm playing well. It's a tough one,” Shapovalov said after losing in Canada. “I'm going to learn from it and see what adjustments I can make better and just continue going forward.”
As Shapovalov explains, he knows he possesses an aggressive game. The challenge is maintaining focus and mental strength throughout a match and a fortnight. Shapovalov works with a sports psychologist to not only strengthen mental preparedness but to learn how to deal with difficult losses. The partnership is helpful for the 22-year-old, who is still navigating how to develop consistency on the tour.
“He's helping me deal with a lot of things and just about learning about yourself at the same time,” Shapovalov said.
The silver lining in return to New York is comfortability. Shapovalov plays some of his best tennis in front of the raucous crowds at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. The Canadian feeds off the energy and will do so once again this year, as fans return to full capacity.
Last year, without spectators, Shapovalov made the quarterfinals, before losing to Pablo Carreno Busta in five sets. When the gates open on Monday, fans will see up close the natural power of Shapovalov’s groundstrokes and hear the crisp sound of the ball coming off his racquet. The on-court energy is matched off-court, evidenced by his rapping ability, which has the seal of approval from fellow Canadian and 2019 US Open champion Bianca Andreescu.
“Honestly I think Denis is a really good rapper,” Andreescu said during US Open Media Day. “I'm sure he can do way more if he practices. Maybe he can collab with someone. It's really nice that he's doing that because it brings a different vibe to the tennis game, and I feel like we need that.”
The practice sessions in the empty Arthur Ashe Stadium will soon turn to electric, packed crowds. Shapovalov hopes he gets inside those hallowed walls, a signal that marquee matches are on the horizon.
