Denis Shapovalov is getting used to playing on the clay, and he's picked a pretty good example to learn from—Rafael Nadal.
The 19-year-old Shapovalov is currently ranked No. 43 with runs like reaching the semifinals of Montreal and the fourth round of the US Open. This season, he reached the semis at Delray Beach, though on clay he lost in the first round in Monte Carlo and Budapest.
‘I don’t really have any high expectations for myself on clay. It’s my least favorite surface and I’m still learning,” Shapovalov told Metro and a small group of journalists.
“Honestly, if I get wins, great. But if I don’t then I get experience so either way I’m happy. I told my coaches I really want to get through this season, really grind—win or lose—go back on the court and train. Just to try and keep getting better. For me that’s more important. If I do get better then the results will come. The tricky part for me is not really the movement or anything, it’s just how to implement my game style onto the surface.”
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