CINCH CHAMPIONSHIPS

June 15, 2021

Denis Shapovalov

Queens Club

Press Conference

D. SHAPOVALOV/A. Vukic

7-6, 7-6

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. Wondering if you can give us an update where you're at physically and how you felt out there today?

DENIS SHAPOVALOV: Yeah, definitely feeling a lot better. Like I mentioned, it was nothing crazy serious, but I didn't want to risk it playing three-out-of-five sets with the shoulder. I played a lot of matches in Geneva, and I felt it building up with every match, felt the pain, so it was important to rest and rehab it. We wanted to get ready for the grass court season.

Also, you know, I'm still fairly young, so I know I'll have a lot of chances to play in Paris. So that was the thinking. But for sure I feel a lot better now. You know, obviously the shoulder is feeling much better.

Q. Wondering if you can share what you think the key is to you having success on the grass this season are.

DENIS SHAPOVALOV: Yeah, I think I've got to serve really well. Obviously it's super important on the grass. If you have a good rhythm on your serve, the opponent isn't getting too many looks. Obviously it puts more pressure on them. You know, obviously that's a big one.

Then I think the movement, you know, a lot of small steps, a lot of adjustments on grass courts, because there is obviously a lot of weird bounces, is super important. So that's something I have been trying to focus on and improve over the years on grass and continue to improve. It's definitely something that I want to continue to emphasize.

Q. Could you give me an update on your coaching situation? Youzhny has not been around much lately. If he's out of the picture, what your plans are, or is he not out of the picture?

DENIS SHAPOVALOV: No, no, he's in the picture. Just some things he's had to take care of. Unfortunately we haven't found time to kind of be together on tour since Barcelona, but he'll definitely be joining me for the hard court swing. Yeah, we're definitely still working together.

Q. So Wimbledon also out?

DENIS SHAPOVALOV: Yeah, yeah. Wimbledon is out and he'll be with me for the hard court season.