"Maybe being a late bloomer is a good thing" - Jimmy Connors expresses confidence in Denis Shapovalov after Dallas title run
ATP
Tennis star Denis Shapovalov took home the biggest title of his career at the Dallas Open last weekend, and the Canadian could be en route to having a breakthrough season, says former World No.1 Jimmy Connors.
Shapovalov overcame former World No.2 Casper Ruud in the final on Sunday, displaying some efficient tennis to record a 7-6(5) 6-3 victory. Prior to reaching the final, Shapovalov defeated top seed Taylor Fritz and defending champion Tommy Paul in the round of 16 and semifinal respectively.
Connors believes Shapovalov could carry momentum through the year
In the latest episode of his Advantage Connors podcast, the retired American pro stated he could see Shapovalov continuing his positive trend following his victory in Dallas.
"We were a big pusher of his for a number of years,” said Connors. “I thought he had the talent to get to the top and win, or at least, challenge for Grand Slam titles. I think he has been through some injuries and he’s coming back.
"Maybe this is the start of that. Maybe being a late bloomer is a good thing for a lot of the guys. Because they appreciate it.
"They have been touted to be top players, Grand Slam challengers and then they don’t make it and fight back and get back to a point where they are starting to find success again and they know what that is like and what it has taken.
“So maybe that is good because we have always said he has got the game for it. Obviously he has put in the time and he’s back and he’s playing good tennis. I hope it continues for him because I always thought he had a game which could challenge the best."
"Maybe this is the start of that. Maybe being a late bloomer is a good thing for a lot of the guys. Because they appreciate it.
"They have been touted to be top players, Grand Slam challengers and then they don’t make it and fight back and get back to a point where they are starting to find success again and they know what that is like and what it has taken.
“So maybe that is good because we have always said he has got the game for it. Obviously he has put in the time and he’s back and he’s playing good tennis. I hope it continues for him because I always thought he had a game which could challenge the best."
Growing up in a household where soccer was king, my earliest memories are filled with chants from packed stadiums and the rhythm of a ball being passed across neighborhood streets. But somewhere along the way, the quiet elegance and raw emotion of tennis pulled me in. What began as a curiosity became a lifelong passion; not just for the sport itself, but for the stories it tells: of grit, of heartbreak, of improbable comebacks and human resilience.
As a tennis writer, I bring the observational lens of someone who didn’t grow up in the sport, but fell in love with it as an outsider; a perspective that lets me see both its technical beauty and its emotional depth. Over the years working with TennisUpToDate, I’ve had the privilege of reaching more than 3.5 million readers worldwide, with one of my features ranking among the site’s top three articles.
With a background in storytelling and a creative mind always searching for meaning beyond the scoreboard, I aim to craft narratives that go deeper than results and rankings. Whether it’s a rising star breaking through or a veteran fighting off Father Time, I try to capture the heartbeat behind the headlines.
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