US OPEN

August 30, 2022

Denis Shapovalov

Press Conference

D. SHAPOVALOV/M. Huesler

2-6, 6-4, 6-4, 3-6, 6-1

THE MODERATOR: Talk us through the match.

DENIS SHAPOVALOV: Yeah, I think definitely a great match to win today. He's been obviously playing some great tennis, made semis last week, beat some great players. He was coming in in good form.

Conditions were tricky today, obviously windy. I thought he was playing really well from the beginning, so it was tough to kind of get into the match.

But, I mean, just did well to fight. I think second and third set was incredible tennis. The fourth set, I mean, I think his level increased, it was too good. In the fifth, I was just able to get an early break and kind of carry it through.

Some tough holds I was able to get through kind of helped me win today.

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. Obviously you didn't play too well in the first set and a half. How much of that was the win and how much was that you struggling?

DENIS SHAPOVALOV: I mean, he's coming off a good result last week, so he's fairly confident. I think it was more he was firing off all cylinders, and I couldn't really get into the match. I wouldn't say I was playing bad or anything, I was just kind of struggling to find a key, to find a way to win against him.

But, I mean, I held the big game in the second set. That kind of helped me feel a little bit of confidence. Obviously breaking him right after that was really big.

Yeah, just winning that second set kind of helped me get into the match and helped settle the nerves a little bit. Yeah, also, I mean, I think overall the level of tennis was high level from both of us. I think we were both shot-making a lot.

Overall, yeah, there were some dips in the match, which is normal, but throughout the match I think both of us played some high-level tennis.

Q. How do you explain your head space from not playing well to playing well? What is going on in your head that allows you to snap in?

DENIS SHAPOVALOV: It's normal to come to a tournament and not be cruising, especially at the beginning. It's always tricky the first couple rounds, especially against a guy like today. He's a big server, goes for his shots. It's not an easy opponent to kind of settle in and get your timing right, this and that.

I just think the experience of playing a lot of these guys is building more and more. Obviously I'm not going to get the win every time against them, but I do feel calm, even when things aren't going my way in those matches.

I know I have time to turn it around. I think I'm getting better at recognizing that and picking the moments where I could kind of try to make a difference in the match when things aren't going my way.

Q. How mentally challenging is it when you can't find the keys and you know you have the tools to win that match?

DENIS SHAPOVALOV: I mean, it's fine. I mean, it's not easy. You're practicing for a week here, playing some great tennis in practice, then obviously you come out in the match, it's a little bit different. You're playing a big server, lefty guy. Everything is a little bit different.

Like I said, he came out firing. He was firing off all cylinders. I mean, honestly I think I stayed pretty calm. Obviously I talk in between the points, but that's more to fire myself up more than anything.

I think in my head actually I was pretty calm, pretty collected throughout the match. I think, yeah, I mean, I knew that I had time. Obviously, like I said, that hold in the second set where I think I saved a break point, really close game, I knew that was a good turning point. If I could get the break the following game, it could turn the match around, which I think it did.

Obviously I had a couple break points, was able to win that game and kind of turn the match into my favor.

Q. The decision to bring Mikhail back to the team, how do you see it? Do you feel it's maybe a trigger that can set you back on track?

DENIS SHAPOVALOV: Honestly I think the team and everyone is on track. I think Mikhail is just an addition. Why I like Mikhail is because we worked in the past, and he knows me really well.

I think that my team and Mikhail, we all have the same vision on how to play my game and how to get better. So for me, Mikhail is just an addition. I feel like obviously we've done well in the past, but I also think he's a super smart guy. He's just one more eye to the team that can help spot little differences and kind of help make a difference in my game and overall going forward.

The way I see it, the way the team sees it, the way Mischa sees it, he's a good addition. I think the team in general, it's important that people know we're all doing the work needed and we have a good vision for our team.

Obviously there's ups and downs, but I think we've all been putting the work in. Yeah, I think it's a great add to have a guy like Mischa, who has been a former player, that knows me already really well, that can help the rest of the team feel my emotions and understand me, but also just his experience playing big matches, leading up to slams, scheduling.

I think it will be great for me and the team. Most of all I think for me it's great to have him by my side, just hear his opinions, hear what he's thinking, have reassurance from him as well.

Q. Do you think he can help Peter learn a few things about you?

DENIS SHAPOVALOV: Definitely, definitely. I think me and Peter have been working really, really well. A lot of the things are working really well in the matches. That's why I think it's so important to say that Mischa is an addition on top of everything that Peter has been doing.

I think they could work together and work with me as well on having one more eye to kind of add to the team to become that much better and have that much clearer of a vision going forward.

Q. With Mischa, do you think he'll stick with you for a while or is this more of a temporary thing? Do you have a plan?

DENIS SHAPOVALOV: I mean, look, I don't build a team trying to have someone just for a little bit. I see the team that I have right now, I see them going forward for many years I hope. I mean, hopefully he feels the same way. We haven't spoke about the future yet.

I called him before I think Cincinnati and asked if he would want to rejoin the team and help me and Petie and everyone kind of as a mentor, as a leader. Yeah, he was very positive, said of course he would like to come to New York, sit down with the team and talk after the tournament.

So for sure I would definitely love to work with him. I think, like I said, anyone that comes on my team, I want them to stay. It's not like a little gimme some advice and see you later. To me a team is a family, some people that you want to have throughout your career. That's really what I've been trying hard to build this season.

I think I'm getting very close. I think everyone on my team is super, super professional. I'm very lucky. I think I'm very honored to have these people wanting to work with me. Hopefully I can keep them all around. Yeah, we'll see.