Davis Cup, TIFF — What's next for rising tennis star Denis Shapovalov?

Rudi Schuller

•
Davis Cup, TIFF — What's next for rising tennis star Denis Shapovalov? image

Denis Shapovalov's September dance card is already filling up.

The 18-year-old was eliminated from the U.S. Open in the fourth round on Sunday, but the young man who's got the whole tennis world talking certainly doesn't have a lack of options on what to do next.

SIGN UP to watch WTA and ATP tour events on DAZN

Shapovalov's instant popularity was evident in his breakout performance at last month's Rogers Cup in Montreal, where large crowds of fellow Canadians cheered on his unexpected run to the semifinals of that tournament. His rising stardom continued into the U.S. Open, where "Shapo" ran roughshod over the qualifiers before working his way into the Round of 16.

Ultimately, Shapovalov's time at Flushing Meadows came to an end at the hands of a near-flawless Pablo Carreño Busta, but it was no coincidence that the young Canadian — who was a relative unknown just six weeks ago — contested his final three U.S. Open matches at the tournament's main venue, the grandiose Arthur Ashe Stadium.

Big names compete at the Arthur Ashe, and there's little doubt now that Shapovalov is a big name despite never having won a top-tier professional tournament.

Yet.

The teenager's infectious enthusiasm, fearless confidence, and — of course — his considerable skill have combined to create the newest phenom in tennis. With that comes demands on and off the court that Shapovalov will have to learn to handle if he's going to continue to navigate the intense gaze of stardom in one of the world's most popular sports.

On the court, Shapovalov is expected to compete in Canada's Davis Cup tie against India in Edmonton later this month. The youngster's presence will surely help sell an otherwise relatively unglamorous event in Northern Alberta, especially as top-ranked Canadian Milos Raonic's participation is in doubt due to a wrist injury.

“We don’t know whether Milos will be able to play, and we probably won’t know until the final week or so,” Tennis Alberta president Elizabeth Huculak told the Edmonton Sun. “He certainly was planning to play in Edmonton.”

With or without Raonic's participation, organizers in Edmonton will be counting on Shapovalov to add visibility to the event. Edmonton hasn't hosted a Davis Cup tie in decades, and the city will certainly hope to make a good impression at the box office.

Shapovalov's participation will ensure that quite a few more tickets are sold.

“Denis is already a big part of our team,” Huculak said. “He has already committed to be here and we know how vital his presence can be.”

For the first time in his young career, Shapovalov will be a selling point for an event. That will surely put added pressure on the youngster, although he seems to be taking his rise in popularity in stride.

“Honestly, it was so much fun to be part of that atmosphere and the match and this whole two weeks,” Shapovalov said after Sunday's U.S. Open match against Carreño Busta. “It's another life-changing event for me, and it's thanks to the crowd. They have been having my back these past couple months. They have been really carrying me. Without them it wouldn't be possible.

“Favourite memory in the past ten days? Honestly, I think it was the sound, the roar of the crowd when I put my bags down and I went to applaud them. They were all screaming. It was so loud, and it was a great moment for me."

As he notes, the crowds for Shapovalov's matches have been particularly raucous. The teenager's popularity was evident amongst all age groups, and the requests for autographs and selfies from his growing fan base skyrocketed with every win.

Off the court, his fame may just be in its infancy. As the new 'it' man in both world tennis and Canadian sporting circles, Shapovalov is seeing a considerable boost in notoriety, even among the type of people that aren't usually associated with tennis.

Even Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne is getting in on Shapo-mania, extending an invite for the youngster to attend the opening night gala at the Toronto International Film Festival. 

There's been no word on whether Shapovalov has accepted (or will accept) Wynne's invite to one of Hollywood's most prestigious events, but as he continues to rise up the ranks those kinds of demands will become commonplace. The affable teenager is a marketer's dream, and there's no doubt that his people have already been contacted by the corporations, organizers and hangers-on that make elite young athletes very rich, and their time very coveted. 

Whether Shapovalov is ready to handle that while still focusing on what brought him to the forefront of the sporting world will only be determined later, but for his part the newest Canadian star is saying all the right things as he looks to continue to put the tennis tour on notice.

“I think I really need to get back to work, and my team is making sure that first of all, I'm staying healthy, and second of all, I'm always trying to get better so that hopefully in the future I can make some more runs," he said on Sunday. "Hopefully, eventually, in the long term, [I'll be] lifting up a cup.”

Rudi Schuller