I looked up to Novak Djokovic because he was No. 3 guy - Shapovalov
In a press conference at the Miami Open, Denis Shapovalov praised Novak Djokovic. The Canadian player said: "I have been really trying to study his game, how he returns, how well he moves on the court, and growing up I was really a big fan of Novak, just because his game is unbelievable, the way he moves but also I really looked up something because he was always that kind of No. 3 guy after Roger and Rafa and he really proved himself that he is capable to breakthrough so I really looked up to him."
On Rafael Nadal's fighting spirit, Shapovalov added: "It's something I really tried to match and make it my own, the way he fights for every point, he does not give you an inch and when I had the chance to play him the couple of times that I did you really feel it on the court, even when you are 40-0 on your serve you feel that you need to win that point otherwise it's going back to deuce, he does not give an inch so I really tried to bring that to my game. Those three guys helped me learn so much in the game and it's three great guys to look up to when you are young." Roger Federer was Denis Shapovalov's childhood idol. The Canadian player spoke about his admiration for the Swiss in a press conference at last week's Miami Open. "I always tried to look at his backhand, the way he hits it, we had always tried to copy him. Just build my game and play like he does, aggressive coming in, he was always not afraid to go for his shots and close the point at the net. Just watching him do that so much I build my personality that way on the court and do well", said Shapovalov.
from Tennis World USA http://bit.ly/2WMS8Ue
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