Australian Open Tuesday, 9 February 2021 Melbourne, Victoria, Australia Denis Shapovalov Press Conference

DENIS SHAPOVALOV: I don't think it made me play D. SHAPOVALOV/J. Sinner differently. Just, you know, when you play a bunch of these matches you grow on experience. For sure, yeah, 3-6, 6-3, 6-2, 4-6, 6-4 you make subtle changes where you want to go, how you want to play. THE MODERATOR: Questions, please. But, you know, of course again every match is different, Q. Fantastic match. Do you see Jannik as one of but for sure I felt more comfortable 5-4 up in the fifth set your main rivals in the year years to come? today than I did against Tsonga a couple years ago.

DENIS SHAPOVALOV: Yeah, definitely today was just I So it's great to kind of use these matches to build. Of think incredible from both of us. Honestly, I think course, you know, even I felt like in the beginning he was Jannik is super talented. He's such an amazing player. playing so good, but I was just staying patient and You know, he's a great guy, great worker. waiting for my opportunities, waiting for my chances to kind of switch the momentum. I felt like I did that really I'm sure he's going to be a very, very tough opponent in well. the future, and obviously I wish him the best. You know, I'm a really big fan of his game and how he is. Q. You didn't make the second round last year. Do you already feel better about coming to Australia this Q. Did it feel a bit unusual for you to be the older time? guy on court with a young gun just sort of having a go at you at this level? DENIS SHAPOVALOV: Yeah, no, I feel like I always have been able to play really well here. Just had tough DENIS SHAPOVALOV: Yeah, it's definitely not often that matches, you know, especially last year I also had a very that's been the case, but, you know, for me it was kind of tough first round. It just didn't go my way. But I'm really nice to see, you know. It was kind of, like, Okay, let's see happy this year. Obviously the first round went my way. what this guy can bring to the table. So, you know, I feel like every time I come to Australia Obviously, you know, I know his game pretty well. I have I'm able to produce some great tennis, so I'm really seen him play a lot. We have practiced a lot. But of happy to be through and hopefully I can go a bit further. course when you're playing a match it's different. You know, he was playing just great tennis. I mean, I think Q. At the end of the fourth set when you asked for we both were. the break, there was a little bit of exchange with the umpire. Was that part of your experience coming Yeah, of course it was different to be kind of the older through as a veteran, saying I need to calm down guy. I think I used that to my advantage, you know, here, slow things down, you know? especially these three- to five-set matches there are a little bit difference with the momentum switches. DENIS SHAPOVALOV: Yeah, I mean, first of all, I was just blowing off steam, just kind of cooling my head, You know, I was in a similar position a couple of years getting rid of it. ago when I played Jo-Wilfried Tsonga serving for the match in the fifth set. So I'm really happy I was able to But also, you know, I do think it's a dumb rule. Especially use that experience and kind of make a change for this for me, I've got the smallest bladder ever, so I literally got match. to take a piss every set. So it's difficult, especially when you're on that court for so long. Q. Do you think it made you play differently, or did you just play with a different, like a more positive Before the match I'm trying to hydrate as much as mindset? possible, so yeah, I gotta pee, man.

104452-1-1063 2021-02-08 14:50:00 GMT Page 1 of 2 No, of course it wasn't the umpire's fault. But for sure I see Bianca. Of course you never want to see any could have been there and back by the time the physio players injured, especially Canadian players. got to the court. So I do think that we should be able to take more breaks and go to the wash room, because we It's really great to see her back and looking healthy. are forced -- not forced, but we could be on the court for three, four hours, you know. Q. From an Italian point of view, I must admit I was supporting Sinner. So I think I think even taking those little breaks, it's worth -- not worth, but I think we deserve it. DENIS SHAPOVALOV: Of course, no hard feelings (smiling). Q. Next match, your thoughts there? Could be an interesting encounter with Bernie. Q. Well, it was a great match, anyway. Did you ever feel at some point that maybe he was a bit tired DENIS SHAPOVALOV: Yeah, of course. I think he's a because of the fights the last two, three days? Was very tricky player. Obviously he's definitely been around that some kind of push for you, you know, being for a while. He's got a lot of experience, and he's tricky. optimistic because he could go down from one He's got a great serve. He's really solid, got great hands. moment to another?

Not going to be easy for sure. Of course Australian as DENIS SHAPOVALOV: Yes, of course it was in my well so the crowd's going to be behind him. head, and of course it's never easy when you're playing so many matches before a leading up to it. I think it's another difficult match for me. For me it's just trying to recover right now. I feel like my game is really I do think he was able to compete and move well to the good right now, so hopefully I can play just as well as I end. You know, I felt like he was -- obviously he had dips did today. and so did I, but I felt like physically of course we were both tired, but I felt like he was still moving pretty well. Q. I think here in Canada there was a collective groan when tennis fans saw you were facing a young But of course it was always in my mind that I'm just a little talent like Sinner in the opening round. What's your bit fresher. I was able to kind of rest the last couple of reaction when you first see the draw and you see days, and he's had to play some difficult, very difficult you've got a tough opponent who has been playing matches. so well lately like him? Did the match live up to the challenge you expected when you saw his name next I know he played a long one against Khachanov and he to yours in the draw? played yesterday literally the final. It's definitely never easy before a Grand Slam, but for sure it was in my head DENIS SHAPOVALOV: Yeah, well, for me, you know, and definitely gave me a little bit of confidence. You it's kind of -- it's not a name you want to see in your draw know, I did feel like I was probably the fresher guy on the in the first rounds. But on the other side, you know, for court. me it was fun leading up to the match. FastScripts by ASAP Sports You know, when I saw it, I was like, Okay, this is exciting. He's in great form. I feel like I had two great matches the week before, so I feel like I'm in form.

So I was excited for it. And of course it lived up to the expectations. It was a long five-set match, which is literally what I expected. So I'm really happy just to get the win.

But honestly, even if I lost today, it was just so much fun to be out on that court. I felt like both of us were playing at such a great level, and it was fun to be a part of.

Q. Would you mind sharing a quick comment about seeing , a fellow Canadian, come back to the tour after a 15-month absence, and what that must mean for her and for tennis in our country?

DENIS SHAPOVALOV: Yeah, no, it's definitely great to

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