The flashy Canadian player is returning from injury and lingers outside the top 100. Can Shapovalov return to the top?
If I was a betting man, I would first ask you to define “top”. Top ten, which he was ranked at in 2020, is not easy. I would say probably not. Top 20, yes there is a chance. What would you say Shapovalov’s odds are of being back in the top ten in the world? If you are into betting on tennis, check out the best welcome bonus Canada sportsbook offershere.
There is no arguing that Shapovalov has the raw talent and firepower to play top-ten tennis. He has shown this on the biggest stages with a few deeper runs at Grand Slams (semi-finals at Wimbledon 2021). He has one title to his name, from the Stockholm Open 2019 (ATP 250).
When Shapovalov plays tennis, it is a flashy affair. He has a jumping one-handed backhand that not many can try to emulate. He likes to go for big 1-2 combinations with his Yonex VCORE 95. His serve has a heavy lefty kick, but his groundstrokes can run hot and cold as he sometimes goes for too much.
A layman might say that he should work on building points more patiently, but his game is built on aggression and lack of fear. You cannot expect him to be as steady and patient like a Djokovic or Sinner. In the ATP rankings, his game somewhat closely resembles Musetti’s, but while the Italian loves the clay, Shapovalov is more at home on faster surfaces like hard courts or grass.
Why is Shapo skipping the Olympics?
Team Canada’s tennis team consists of Bianca Andreescu, Felix Auger-Aliassime, Gabriela Dabrowski, Leylah Annie Fernandez and Milos Raonic. But no Shapovalov. Why is Shapovalov skipping the Olympics?
As you might remember, Shapovalov and Aliassime were two key players when Team Canada won the Davis Cup in 2022. This is usually a sign of strong pride in playing for their country. However, Shapovalov has been seen playing Atlanta recently, but is not in Paris for the Olympics 2024.
The reason Shapovalov is not playing the Olympics is that there are no ATP ranking points in the competition and as he is working his way back from injury, he desperately needs those points so he can be seeded for big tournaments in the future. This is the main reason Shapovalov said he decided to skip the games.
“It’s been a real tough journey to come back,” Shapovalov told ATPTour.com. “It is never easy to come back from an injury, especially when you do take six months off. You feel you need to kind of catch a break. I think I started to play as soon as I could and maybe it was a little bit too early. I wasn’t completely ready tennis-wise, but you do need to play matches and tournaments. I was struggling a little bit at the beginning trying to find my game, but I feel better every single week.
Tennis fans look forward to seeing Shapovalov back in form, showcasing his brilliant shot-making and flair. His decision to opt out of the Olympics (played on his least favorite surface) makes sense so that he can build his game towards the tail-end of the season and beyond.
Can Shapovalov return to the top? Time will tell.
