Disturbed Shapovalov set to lose first round, as bushfire fear takes heavy tolls

Clearly disturbed by the Australian Bushfire-related health hazards, the 20-year-old Israeli-born Canadian, 13th seed Dennis Shapovalov, who had been coached many years by his mother, Tessa Shapovalov, says on Monday (January 20th) morning just a few minutes before he was set to take on the 27-year-old Hungarian, Marton Fucsovics, that, he will not put his life in jeopardy by playing tennis in a heavily polluted Melbourne with the nearest bushfire smearing its fumes about 100 miles away.  

Although, severe air pollution had been sweeping the Melbourne sky over the past week, Monday (January 20th) morning’s air seemed to be much better and playable, but during preparation of the report, the 13th seed seems to be utterly frustrated while bushfire smoke fears have certainly been taking a heavy toll on his mind, as the 20-year-old ‘left-handed aggressive all-court’ Canadian, was behind 3-6, 2-3.

Besides, after expressing his discontent over the air pollution risks, Shapovalov has been provided with the privilege to get his tournament underway on Margaret court arena, but the 20-year-old Canadian young flair said in the morning he was not happy how the authorities had handled the situation thus far.

Meanwhile, when being asked what he would do if anything unpleasant took place during the match, Shapovalov said, “I wouldn't play. Obviously, it's a Grand Slam, it's a big opportunity, but I'm 20 years old! I don't want to risk my life, risk my health being out there in these conditions when I can play for the next 10, 15 years.”

from Tennis World USA https://ift.tt/2NMDhHk