DAVIS CUP FINALS

November 20, 2024

Frank Dancevic

Denis Shapovalov

Team Canada

Press Conference

J.L. STRUFF/D. Shapovalov

4-6, 7-5, 7-6

Team Germany - 2

Team Canada - 0

THE MODERATOR: Questions in English.

Q. Denis, there is no easy loss. This one probably stinks a lot. How would you describe your emotions right now?

DENIS SHAPOVALOV: Yeah, definitely very disappointed for the team. I feel like I let them down, especially, you know, I felt like I had the match in my hands, had a lot of chances.

Yeah, it just slipped away from me, so it's definitely a tough one, especially playing 1 this week. Yeah, I like that role. I like to take it on. I want to, you know, bring points for the team. So it's definitely tough to lose today.

Q. Denis, tough luck. It was a close one today. You have played Struff a lot but not since you have played him at this same stage two years ago. How much did you sort of look at that match in preparation for today, or did you sort of just -- yeah, I guess, mentally and tactically preparing for today, but at the same time, different situation. Last time it was the first match of the tie, and more pressure, a must-win today, that sort of thing.

DENIS SHAPOVALOV: No, I didn't look at that match at all. It was I think almost two years ago, more than two years ago. Things are much different now. We're different players. A lot of time goes by.

So, yeah, I know how he plays, so it's not much to look from that match. Yeah, like I said, I mean, I did, for the most part, everything correct. I was unlucky, to be honest.

Yeah, there is obviously things I could have changed in the third, but I was really close to closing it out in straights, and it's unfortunate, really.

Q. I hope you don't hate me about this, but I want to ask about the double faults here because it was 13. So it's a lot.

DENIS SHAPOVALOV: How many aces did I hit?

Q. 27.

DENIS SHAPOVALOV: Okay, thank you.

Q. Is it about the risk with the serve or something else?

DENIS SHAPOVALOV: Yeah, I mean, that's how I serve. I won a title two weeks ago serving like that. Balls were a bit heavier this week. I could feel it in my arm.

Yeah I was, you know, clipping the tape. It was unfortunate a few of those serves. They were very close from being very good serves.

Yeah, it's tough. Obviously I don't want to double fault, but I'm going to miss if I just try to roll it in anyway. So I need to go for it, and I figured that out about myself.

Today, yeah, it was unfortunate it was 13 double faults but it was also 27 aces. I saved a whole lot of breakpoints with big serves and big aces, but people don't pay attention to that. They seem to want to talk about negative stuff.

Q. But it was in your mind when you serve on the match point?

DENIS SHAPOVALOV: No.

Q. No?

DENIS SHAPOVALOV: No, I go for my serve regardless if it's match point or 0-0. I try to serve the same and go for it.

Q. Denis, the Canadian crowd was a little bit outnumbered today by the Germans. How was it having the fans behind you, especially in a moment when you had to break him to serve for the match. The crowd was really loud for you?

DENIS SHAPOVALOV: Yeah, it was a good environment. A lot of people came out, so it was fun.

Yeah, I didn't expect so many Canadians. It's a long trip for them to make it here, so we definitely always appreciate it, you know, especially in tournaments like this. It's way more fun when there is a crowd.

I think when we played in Manchester a couple of the ties, it was pretty empty. So it's tougher for the players to really be motivated. Yeah, this is much easier to be in the match and to really push yourself.

Q. Frank, your general thoughts today on Denis and Gab's performances.

CAPTAIN FRANK DANCEVIC: Yeah, it was a lot of tension in the first match with Gab and Altmaier. I mean, they both came out really tentative. You know, they didn't snap out of it the whole match, actually.

The quality of the match, I think it was below average for both guys. Unfortunately, you know, he couldn't pull that one off.

But the second match, I thought it was really good quality. You know, the guys played great tennis. I mean, Struff, he's playing really good on these courts with his serve. It suits his game, this kind of surface. It comes down to a couple of points.

Overall it was a great match with Denis, and at this level when two guys are playing really well, there is really little room for error from each side, and there is a little bit of luck that's factored into that.

You know, we lost a really close match, but, you know, that's the way it goes. I think that overall Davis Cup is never easy. There is always ups and downs, and I'm really proud of the guys this week the way they fought out there. That's all I can ask for as a captain.

Next year we're going to come back stronger and try to make a run once again hopefully (smiling)?