AUSTRALIAN OPEN

February 12, 2021

Denis Shapovalov

Press Conference

F. AUGER-ALIASSIME/D. Shapovalov

7-5, 7-5, 6-3

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. Bad luck. You were up a break in the first set and second set what went wrong at that time?

DENIS SHAPOVALOV: Yeah, I mean, I started really well. Thought I had all the momentum and then just got tight. Just sprayed four points in a row. Nerves got to me a little bit, and after that he got some belief and he started playing really well. Yeah, it was tough after that. I regrouped in the second set.

Yeah, just a little bit of spraying today, couple loose errors, and that was pretty much the difference.

Q. I was wondering if you could tell us, how do you assess the level of game you've expressed throughout the tournament regardless of tonight's result?

DENIS SHAPOVALOV: Sorry, what? My level?

Q. Yeah, your level of tennis throughout the tournament regardless of the result of it.

DENIS SHAPOVALOV: Yeah, no, I think definitely playing at a really high level, even in ATP Cup. And today, as well. Obviously there was games where I had a lot of loose mistakes and missing more today. But I honestly feel like my game is there, and I'm playing well.

In the end it's a tennis match. I lost today, but I'm happy with the way things are going in practice, with the way I'm improving. And, you know, I just hope to keep going in this direction.

Q. What did you notice different in the game of Felix compared to the last time that you faced him?

DENIS SHAPOVALOV: Well, it's a different match, so obviously, you know, we played, what, two years ago now or a year -- I don't know. It was a long time. So of course, you know, I think he was serving really good today, moving really well.

He was putting a lot of returns in the court so overall he was just playing really solid. It was really impressive to see, but, you know, I expected it. He's been in great form, great shape, you know, playing great matches. Yeah, for me it was no surprise.

Yeah, I mean, it's good to see him, you know, also playing this well.