After Youzhny became Shapovalov's coach, the Canadian captured his first ATP title in Stockholm after what he praised the Russian. Youzhny is also happy with Shapovalov's performances but he says it is not magic.
“It doesn't work like this. It's not magic work. It's not like you're coming, you say something, and he's starting to play better, like really better,” Youzhny told ATPTour.com.
“I don't think it's anything specific. I just have been working over the years and just kind of building my game. Of course, Mikhail has helped me a lot, but it comes from before then. Even when I wasn't getting a lot of wins, when I was struggling, I was still going to the court, working every single day as hard as I could,” Shapovalov said.
“I don't think it comes from something magical. The end of last season it was kind of starting to click for me. The way I started, it's great. So hopefully I can just keep up my form and just keep improving. Still, I'm only 20 years old, and I feel like there is a lot of room to grow and areas where I can work on.”
“He can do everything on court, like volley, backhand, serve. That's why for me it's interesting to work with him,” Youzhny said.
“What I like, if you ask him something to try, he always tries to try... This is very good because he never said, 'This? I don't need at all. This, for what I need this one? Blah, blah, blah.' He's open for something new. This is really important because this is the thing that can bring you to a new level.”
[embed]https://www.instagram.com/p/B8JG534hP6i/[/embed]