‘He makes me want to fight more on court’ – Denis Shapovalov delighted with impact from new coach

Jamie Delgado is already doing wonders heading up the coaching team of Denis Shapovalov, the young Canadian has revealed.  

The world number 14 is into his first individual semi-final of the year and could reach a first final in Dubai should he defeat the man who downed Novak Djokovic in the quarter-finals, Czech qualifier Jiri Vesely.

After ousting Ricardas Berankis 7-6 (7-4), 6-3 to reach the last four, Shapovalov spoke on his relationship with new coach Delgado who parted ways with Andy Murray to work with the Canadian.

“He’s done an incredible job with me,” Shapovalov said in his quarter-final post-match interview.

“Just the way he communicates with everyone, the whole team.

“It’s such an open atmosphere, we’re learning from each other.

“He’s definitely made me want to fight more on the court.

“It’s definitely been great so far and I can’t wait to see what we can achieve.”

So far in 2022 Shapovalov has won the ATP Cup alongside fellow youngster Felix Auger-Aliassime before reaching the quarter-finals of the Australian Open right after, losing to eventual champion Rafael Nadal there.

That run was just the third time the 22-year-old had gone so deep at a Major, previously reaching the quarter-finals of the 2020 US Open and semi-finals at Wimbledon last year, his best Slam result to date.

Should Shapovalov beat Vesely and win the final on Saturday it would be his biggest career title.

The Canadian has one ATP title to his name, coming at 250 level at the 2019 Stockholm Open.

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