NATIONAL BANK OPEN

July 29, 2025

Denis Shapovalov

Press Conference

L. TIEN/D. Shapovalov

7-6, 7-5

THE MODERATOR: Denis, not the result you wanted, but what do you think you can improve further?

DENIS SHAPOVALOV: Honestly, today's loss was probably completely mental. I felt like, or not felt like, you could see by the scoreboard, but, you know, I kind of had both sets in my hand, just kind of let them slip. Yeah, just felt nervous a bit today, didn't really feel comfortable on the court out there. So, yeah, just a little bit unlucky maybe in some moments, but, yeah, it is what it is.

I still tried to stay true to my game, still go for it. Yeah, just didn't kind of connect today. But, yeah, you know, it happens.

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. You said recently that this is the Masters 1000 that you really, really want to win in your career. How gut wrenching was it to be eliminated this early on by somebody who ranks far below you?

DENIS SHAPOVALOV: Yeah, it sucks, of course. You know, obviously it's an important tournament. Actually, you know, I actually try to treat it like any other Masters 1000. But yeah, the last couple times I played in Toronto I haven't felt too comfortable on court there and, yeah, it's been tough.

I feel like that court is kind of tricky to play my game on. It is what it is. There's places where, surfaces where you enjoy to play more. Obviously I've had great success in Montreal, and I like that court there. Here it's been a little bit trickier for me.

Yeah, it sucks. But, again, today didn't go my way, but I felt like I wasn't beaten, I lost today. I had the match, I had the first set, I had the second set, and yeah, just a little bit of nerves, a little bit of, yeah, just didn't go my way. That's tennis, it happens quite often.

Q. If I'm right, you haven't won in Canada since 2019. Was that something on your mind before?

DENIS SHAPOVALOV: No.

Q. Was that the cause? You didn't know about that?

DENIS SHAPOVALOV: No, I don't keep track.

Q. So the nervousness was not because of that, in your mind?

DENIS SHAPOVALOV: Obviously not, no.

Q. Do you have the pinpoint at all when the mental focus started to slip at all in the match?

DENIS SHAPOVALOV: It wasn't mental focus. Like I said, I just got a little nervous. Again, I served a couple bad doubles serving for the first set. I missed a backhand. Just a loose game of my serve there.

And then I broke the guy twice in the second set. I was up twice. Last week, where I was playing cleaner, it's a 6-3, 6-2 match.

So, yeah, it's just a little bit of nerves, some games that my serve slipped away. It didn't feel like he outplayed me in any of those games, you know, it was me missing. So, yeah, on one side, that's what it is though. When I commit to playing aggressively and going for it, I have to stay true to myself, and sometimes it's going to happen like this. Sometimes I'll have weeks like Los Cabos, and sometimes it will be like this.

So, yeah, I think I did everything right today, just need to be a little bit sharper in serving for the sets next time.

Q. In the second set, after the second break, you had your hand up to your ear, the crowd's going nuts. Did you feel like, okay, this is the turning point?

DENIS SHAPOVALOV: There was a lot of turning points. Like I said, I broke twice in the second set. Yeah, served for both sets. Yeah, I didn't feel, until maybe the very end, that I was going to lose this match. I felt completely in control.

I felt fine after the first set because I felt like the set should have been mine, I just kind of messed up serving for the set.

And then in the second set I was up twice, up the majority of the set. So I never felt like I'm being outplayed or this match is slipping away. So, yeah, it's just a little bit unfortunate. Too many mistakes today. Like I said, I didn't feel comfortable out there. Yeah, it happens. I'll try to be better for next week.

Q. I wonder if you could say a little bit more about the court. Can you put your finger on what it is? Is it the way the ball comes off, the jump, what is it?

DENIS SHAPOVALOV: It's a combination. I feel like it's a pretty open stadium, so it's pretty swirly out there. Yeah, I felt like my feet weren't adjusting great to the ball today.

I don't know about the surface. I did feel like sometimes it was skidding, sometimes it was jumping, so it's tough to gauge it. It seemed, I don't know, it seemed like a couple of the matches that I watched it was kind of similar.

But, yeah, it's a personal thing. I just didn't feel comfortable on it this year. Yeah, it felt tough to play my game on the court.

Q. Your mother Tessa coached you from the very beginning, and she took you on this remarkable journey. How does it feel to play on home soil with her watching on a night like this?

DENIS SHAPOVALOV: Yeah, it means a lot to have her watch. Obviously she doesn't come out too much any more. Obviously she's always watching from home, but it definitely means a lot to have her present and watching my matches.

For sure it's very meaningful for me to have her there. Yeah, I mean, hopefully next time I can win in front of her.