Denis Shapovalov told he needs to ‘grow up’ after losing to Jannik Sinner at the US Open after umpire complaint

Denis Shapovalov put in a performance against Jannik Sinner that typifies exactly who he is as a player.

At his very best, he is more than capable of challenging the very best players in the world with his supreme talent.

However, we rarely see such a level; instead, we are more accustomed to the kind of implosion that has seen him fail to live up to the vast potential many once claimed he had.

That is why, having won the first set and raced into a 3-3 lead in the third with the score one set apiece, it was not a surprise to see him blow his hefty lead.

David Law, speaking on The Tennis Podcast, thinks he saw exactly what is holding the Canadian back when listening to his press conference.

Denis Shapovalov slammed for umpire complaint

He recalled: “He came out to his press conference, so I asked the first two questions. I asked him one about going toe-to-toe with Sinner, and he went through them and he was pleased with himself, but then my second question was, given you got to that position that once at all and three love, you then started to get upset, you started to have a lot of back and forth with your support team there. What was happening there, and is that something you’re going to have to get a grip on if you’re actually going to make any further progress?

“And he really refused to accept that as a concept. And it was relentless all the way through that third set. He was being sarcastic towards them, he was blaming them for his serve going off. And I just thought, okay, this match is over.”

There was cause for celebration, as Law did admit: “He was talking about how pleased with his progress he’s been over the last few months, he’s got to keep going in the right direction. Sometimes he needs to get fired up, and sometimes maybe he does need to know, not get fired up and sort of, you know, let it go.

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“So he was saying one or two of the right things, but I got the sense that Tillstrom and that team, and he’s a very smart coach who’s dealt with a lot as a coach over the years. I just feel like he’s got a hell of a job on his hands if he wants to make a material difference to this incredible talent.”

The pundit and commentator finished with a rather scathing assessment of where Shapovalov is as a player: “He’s a nice lad, Denis Shapovalov, but it is like talking to a child when he’s in that mode, when he’s in that mode.

“I’m really not meaning to be harsh on him. I just think that’s the truth. He’s got to grow up and stop that stuff. However he gets there, I just think he’s never going to achieve what he wants to without it.”

Carlos Alcaraz will have been pleased watching Jannik Sinner’s struggle

As noted elsewhere, players in the locker room will be talking about Sinner’s struggles against Shapovalov.

Carlos Alcaraz, in particular, will have been licking his lips.

Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images

After all, it is the Italian who has really been the only consistent threat to his dominance over the ATP tour this year, having thwarted him at Wimbledon and come within one point of doing the same at Roland Garros.

However, if Jannik Sinner’s serve is misfiring as it was last night, it will give the five-time Grand Slam champion too many opportunities on which not to capitalise.

Especially given it was that particular shot that kept him at arm’s length throughout that entire Wimbledon final.

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