ATP Tour

Shapovalov on facing the Big 3: 'Roger toyed with me'

Sam Querrey sat down with Denis Shapovalov for the first podcast episode of the Stella Artois ATP Perfect Serve, looking back at the Canadian's biggest moments, his experiences against all-time greats and his advice on what makes the perfect serve. 

Shapovalov opened up about competing against Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal, offering a candid look at the challenges of stepping on court against three of the sport’s biggest icons. The lefty reflected on the unique feeling of facing Federer and the way the Swiss maestro could make opponents feel like they were constantly chasing shadows.

“I only played Roger once and he toyed with me,” Shapovalov said. “I felt like an absolute junior on the court with him.”

At the same time, Shapovalov discussed where he felt he found opportunities against members of the Big Three and which matchups suited him most.

“When [Nadal] executed well, there was nothing I could do,” Shapovalov said. "But I felt like I had a lot of chances against him. I beat him on clay… I beat him in Montreal the first time. He was the one I had the most success with.”

The 27-year-old, who earned two wins against Nadal in their Lexus ATP Head2Head series (2-4), also shared insights into his own game and philosophy on serving, explaining why keeping things straightforward can often be the key to success.

“I think simplicity is very important on the serve," Shapovalov said. "If you overcomplicate it, I think too many things can go wrong."

From memorable battles to technical insights and behind-the-scenes stories, Shapovalov delivers plenty of entertaining moments throughout the conversation.

Watch the full episode here