ROLAND GARROS

May 24, 2022

Denis Shapovalov

Press Conference

H. RUNE/D. Shapovalov

6-3, 6-1, 7-6

THE MODERATOR: So tough luck. Can you sum up your match today?

DENIS SHAPOVALOV: Yeah, it was difficult. For sure I wasn't able to bring out my best performance. It's definitely frustrating.

But yeah, it just shows I have a lot to work on. And just excited to get back to work. Never think I'm done learning and improving.

So, yeah, it's difficult moment, but I just keep working.

THE MODERATOR: Questions?

Q. Two questions. One is: How did you take the measure of your opponent? I think it's your first time facing him, correct? And then the second one is: Taylor Fritz said something interesting yesterday, which he thought the ATP should sort of loosen up a little bit and the younger generation wants to sort of see players really be emotional on court and that they shouldn't give so many penalties. Sort of curious what your take is on that situation.

DENIS SHAPOVALOV: Yeah, I mean, I think you got to keep measures, otherwise it's going to get crazy. I think we actually have it pretty good. I think in other sports if you say something to the refs you're out of the game. So I think here we have some flexibility in that. So I wouldn't agree with that. I think measures are important.

I know I'm a guy that gets fired up and need to get better at controlling my emotions. So, yeah, I would disagree that something should change. I think it's already too loose, I would say. And, yeah, I think we have it good.

Q. It was tough first round. I was wondering in your game what you feel you could have done better? And second part is just to know what are your plans for the grass season?

DENIS SHAPOVALOV: Yeah, I mean, I didn't really show up today, so it's a little bit difficult. Of course, Holger is playing some great tennis, won his first title, semis last week, I believe, pushing some top guys. So yeah, for sure not taking anything away from him, obviously he's playing great tennis.

But I think against most players today I wouldn't come out the winner. So, yeah, a little bit frustrating on my side and just feel like I need to improve some things. Be sure that I'm ready for the slams. And, yeah, that's it.

Q. Grass season?

DENIS SHAPOVALOV: Yeah, the grass, it's difficult right now. I think it's a little bit added pressure on me, knowing that losing a lot of points and not able to defend. So I knew going into this tournament the last couple days that it's going to be very important for me to go deep here, otherwise it's going to be awhile until I can gain some points in New York.

So definitely it's a little bit of added pressure. But again, I'm not trying to give an excuse or something. I just need to be better, I need to improve, and I just got to keep working.

Q. I know what you mean when you say you didn't show up. Was there anything before coming into the match that led you to think that might happen? And if not, after the first set, say, set and a half, were you shocked at yourself that you didn't show up?

DENIS SHAPOVALOV: I don't know if I'm shocked or not.

Q. Surprised?

DENIS SHAPOVALOV: Yeah, it's just difficult. I mean, yeah, it's not surprising, but it's happened before. It's not the first time, but it's been awhile that I played with so many mistakes as today.

So for sure it's not a great thing to do at a slam. Like I said, I just need to improve and make changes. And if I feel this way, have kind of a plan B or something that I can change to to help me kind of change my feelings or change the game. But again, I play a very aggressive game, so when I'm off, I'm off. So it's kind of like that.

Q. Second thing is, because of the Wimbledon point situation, are you considering not playing since there's not much to gain?

DENIS SHAPOVALOV: I haven't decided anything yet. Been trying to focus on this tournament. Like I said, I knew it's going to be very important to get as many points as possible here. So unfortunately, that didn't go greatly.

But yeah, I'll take the next couple days to kind of regroup and see my steps going forward, yeah.

Q. The clay court season, what was the reasons for splitting with Jamie Delgado? Was there a disagreement? Was it mutual? What was the factors behind that, please?

DENIS SHAPOVALOV: No, it's just sometimes -- I mean, we had a trial going into the end of Miami and that finished obviously in Miami. Then the original plan was to take Petey for the clay season. But there was, I just felt something missing with Jamie. It wasn't anything in particular. I mean, he's an amazing guy, we got along really well, and I think he's an amazing coach.

But I just didn't think it just suited with me or my game. The last couple weeks with Petey have been really, really good, you know, in practice, getting along, everything. So I have full belief that Petey can help me a lot. So that was basically the decision.

But yeah, sometimes it's difficult. Obviously Jamie's an incredible guy and we got along really, really well, but I just felt like I was missing a little bit.

Q. You say obviously personally you do get affected by losing the points from Wimbledon. What are your thoughts on the decision in general, Wimbledon's decision and then the ATP's decision to remove the points?

DENIS SHAPOVALOV: I mean, yeah, I don't agree with either. I think first of all, if you have a pro competition, that everybody should be competing. I completely understand the politics and the situation they're in.

But again, if you have a tennis tournament that's supposed to have the best athletes in the world, it shouldn't matter where you're from, this and that, you know? So everybody should be competing.

I also don't agree with the ATP to take out all the points. The most guys it's affecting are the guys in the top rankings. Obviously Novak, me, Hubi, Berrettini, who is not playing here, we're going to drop a lot.

So it's difficult. Yeah, it's difficult. I think they could have gone with it a different way, maybe keep 50 percent like they have in the past or some kind of fairness. But even a guy like Fucsovics is going to drop out of the top 100, you know.

So it's difficult for the players when you don't have a chance to defend and especially on a surface like grass where it's already so short and the players that play well on that surface they don't have that many opportunities to make points, so you take a huge chunk of it out, it's super difficult for players.

Q. Some of the players were saying they weren't consulted and that was another sort of gripe they had. Were you part of any discussions about it at all?

DENIS SHAPOVALOV: No, nothing. Not at all. I think most of the time most players aren't consulted.

Q. You mentioned trying to sort of target Grand Slams a bit more. I appreciate Wimbledon's going to be different this year. How do you go about doing that? Does it mean playing fewer tournaments and trying to peak higher and shorter or how do you approach your season differently to do that?

DENIS SHAPOVALOV: Yeah, I'm definitely trying to, it's not just the Grand Slams it's also the Masters events, just the bigger tournaments. But, yeah, for sure playing fewer weeks and just kind of having training and everything focused on those weeks that aren't the big tournaments, even if I'm playing a 250 or something smaller I'm training much more through it, I put my body through a lot so that I can be physically ready for the big events. So, yeah, it's just kind of a different focus throughout the season.