Raonic, Shapovalov on different footing heading into Rogers Cup

Milos Raonic is heading into this yr’s Rogers Cup in a different place than the one he is change into accustomed to over the previous couple of years. Supplanted by teenager Denis Shapovalov because the top-ranked Canadian within the males’s singles draw, there’s out of the blue loads much less exterior stress on the Thornhill, Ont., product to reach the lone ATP Masters occasion on house soil. However Raonic, who ranked as excessive as No. three on the earth two years in the past, mentioned he by no means felt anticipated to hold Canadian tennis on his shoulders anyway. “It is enjoyable to produce other guys doing properly but it surely’s by no means been a burden, it is by no means been something,” Raonic mentioned Sunday. “It is simply been me doing the perfect I can in each state of affairs that is forward of me. “It is positively a whole lot of enjoyable to have [Shapovalov and fellow up-and-comer Felix Auger-Aliassime] round doing properly, to see them developing and developing shortly. However I do not suppose it is made any sense of a direct impression in any approach of constructing one thing simpler.” Up-and-down highway Raonic, now ranked 30th on the ATP standings, begins his Rogers Cup match Monday night time in opposition to 10th-seeded David Goffin of Belgium. The 19-year-old Shapovalov (No. 26) begins Tuesday night time in opposition to France’s Jeremy Chardy whereas wild card Montrealer Auger-Aliassime (No. 134), who’ll flip 18 this week, takes on Lucas Pouille of France in his Rogers Cup fundamental draw debut. Raonic final performed Goffin in Madrid in 2017, shedding in straight units within the third spherical. However he additionally had one among his finest matches of his profession in opposition to Goffin, rallying from two units right down to beat him within the Spherical of 16 at Wimbledon in 2016. It has been an up-and-down highway for Roanic since then, with a rash of accidents — together with a quad tear at Wimbledon final month — sending him tumbling down the world rankings. He hasn’t competed since Wimbledon however mentioned Sunday he is felt nice over two weeks of practising in Toronto. Shapovalov​’s assured recreation “I suppose one of many issues I’ve had the luxurious of is being harm fairly just a few occasions so I’ve that have,” Raonic mentioned, drawing just a few laughs from reporters. “I understand how to reset.” Shapovalov has solely confronted Chardy as soon as, beating him within the first spherical at Wimbledon this season. However he referred to as that victory a confidence booster heading into Tuesday’s match. The group ought to assist ease any nerves, too. “I all the time are likely to carry out a superb recreation at house after I’m enjoying both in Montreal or Toronto,” Shapovalov mentioned. “So I am pretty assured with my recreation proper now.” This can be Shapovalov’s second time in the principle draw at a Rogers Cup in Toronto (he made it to the second spherical of the 2016 match), however first since his breakout season final yr that noticed him skyrocket up the standings after a semifinal loss to eventual champion Alex Zverev of Germany within the Montreal occasion. And Shapovalov mentioned he is solely improved within the yr since. “I really feel extra snug on the market with actually anyone,” he mentioned. “I really feel like I can beat any participant with a superb recreation. I haven’t got to play out of my league.” Embracing the second Shapovalov, who grew up in close by Richmond Hill, Ont. — roughly a 20-minute drive from Toronto’s Rogers Cup house on the York College campus — remembers watching his favorite gamers compete right here as a child. His favorite reminiscence was on the 2014 match when he labored as a hitting associate for Roger Federer, warming him up earlier than his semifinal win in opposition to Feliciano Lopez on Centre Court docket. Two days earlier than competing on that very same court docket, Shapovalov mentioned he is attempting not to consider the hype that comes with being the highest ranked Canadian on the match. “For me an important factor is my recreation, it is bettering, it is getting higher,” he mentioned. “So I do not actually attempt to focus on something exterior that.” Raonic can be competing in his 10th Rogers Cup — and sixth in Toronto — and mentioned the thrill of enjoying in his hometown match hasn’t worn off. Nor does he count on it to. “I all the time say when issues are a bit tough in a match it makes it a little bit bit simpler getting the power from the group,” he mentioned. “And when issues are going properly it makes it final a little bit bit longer. “I feel it does make a distinction and it is essential that you simply embrace it.” https://www.cbc.ca/sports/tennis/raonic-shapovalov-rogers-cup-1.4775088?cmp=rss