"Has to try to put tennis as his priority": Denis Shapovalov not commited enough to be tennis force in scathing criticism from ex-coach
ATPSunday, 31 December 2023 at 00:28
Former
world No. 8 Mikhail Youzhny worked with Denis Shapovalov during his prime, but
they parted ways in 2022 due to some disagreements. The ex-coach of 'Shapo'
recently responded to an interview where he claimed that the Canadian wasn't
entirely focused on tennis, leading to a decline in his performance.
While
working together, Shapovalov reached the top 10 and achieved significant
results, such as reaching the semifinals at the 2021 Wimbledon, the final of
the 2019 Paris Masters, and winning the Nordic Open title. However, since 2022,
he hasn't maintained consistency on the ATP Tour, and coupled with injuries,
his ranking has dropped. He is currently ranked as the world No. 109.
Shapovalov's commitment according to Youzhny
According
to Youzhny's comments on Tennis Majors, Shapovalov needs to make some off-court
changes if he wants to regain the consistency he had in previous years: "I
felt like I can’t bring him the change he needed. He is listening, but he is
not fully doing what he needs to do in order to be a top player."
“Two or
three years ago, he was one of the guys who could consistently be in the top
ten, but for that to happen, he needed to change a few things outside tennis,”
Youzhni added.
“He must be
healthy 100%, first and foremost, and physically better. Main thing, he has to
try to put tennis as his priority,” Russian coach stated. “It is his priority
for most of the time, but in my opinion, he made some wrong decisions where he
didn’t make tennis as the priority,” he added.
Possible Partnership with Garín
Mikhail
Youzhny has been working with the Chilean Christian Garin (world No. 82) in
recent weeks, preparing for the Australian Open, considering Garin's recent
split with Andres Schneiter. The Russian coach mentioned that the former world
No. 17 asked him to travel with him during the year: "Christian asked me
to work with him, but I don’t have time at the moment. I told him we could
train together a bit and maybe go to some tournaments, but I’m not sure."
Cristhián AvilaTennis Journalist
Cristhián Ávila is a tennis journalist based in Santiago, Chile, and has been part of the TennisUpToDate team since early 2023. He covers the ATP and WTA Tours as well as all four Grand Slams, producing breaking news, match reports, analysis, and regular liveblogs from major tournaments.
His reporting combines statistical analysis with clear explanation, helping readers understand tactical developments, player form, and broader storylines across the tour. Working fluently in both Spanish and English, Cristhián collaborates with an international editorial team and contributes to comprehensive global coverage. As part of his work, he has conducted interviews and media interactions with leading figures in the sport, including Caroline Wozniacki and John McEnroe.
In his journalism, Cristhián places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. His coverage is grounded in research, context, and direct engagement with professional tennis.
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