Denis Shapovalov – Left-Handed Shotmaker and Canadian Tennis Entertainer

Some players win you over with trophies. Denis Shapovalov wins you over the moment he steps on court.

The left-handed serve curling away from the returner. The one-handed backhand struck with a whip of the wrist that draws gasps from the crowd. The leaping winner down the line that nobody in the stadium saw coming. Shapovalov plays tennis with a flair and creativity that makes him one of the most watchable players on the ATP tour regardless of the scoreline.

Born in Tel Aviv and raised in Richmond Hill, Ontario from the age of nine months, he was coached from five years old by his mother Tessa, herself a former professional player. The left-handed game she helped build became one of the most distinctive and entertaining on the entire tour.

And it was at the Canadian Open in Montreal where the world first truly noticed what Denis Shapovalov could do.

Quick Facts:

Denis Shapovalov at the Canadian Open

The Canadian Open and Denis Shapovalov share a moment that Canadian tennis fans will never forget.

In 2017 he arrived at the Montreal draw as an 18 year old ranked 134th in the world, given a wildcard entry into a Masters 1000 field he had no business competing in at that stage of his career. In the third round he defeated Rafael Nadal, the world No. 2 and one of the greatest players in history, in straight sets. The tennis world stopped and paid attention.

What made that 2017 Montreal run historic:

• He defeated world No. 2 Rafael Nadal in the third round as a wildcard ranked 134th
• He became the youngest player to reach an ATP Masters 1000 semifinal since the category was created in 1990
• His run propelled him from No. 134 to No. 51 in the world rankings in a single week
• He was just 18 years old competing in only his sixth ATP main draw appearance

The home crowd at IGA Stadium adopted him immediately. His attacking left-handed game, his one-handed backhand, and his fearless approach against the world’s best created an atmosphere that night in Montreal that felt unlike anything the Canadian Open had produced in years.

That week did not just launch Shapovalov’s career. It announced that Canadian men’s tennis had another star ready to follow in Milos Raonic’s footsteps.

Canadian Open Results

Denis Shapovalov’s Canadian Open record is defined by one extraordinary week that changed everything, followed by years of competitive appearances at his home tournament.

Key observations:

• His 2017 semifinal remains his best Canadian Open result and one of the most memorable performances in recent tournament history
• Injury disruptions in 2023 and 2024 limited his Canadian Open appearances during those seasons
• His home crowd connection at both Montreal and Toronto remains among the strongest of any Canadian player on tour

Best Canadian Open Performances

Among all his Canadian Open appearances, one week stands in a category entirely its own.

2017 Montreal – The Week That Changed Everything:

Shapovalov arrived in Montreal as an 18 year old wildcard ranked 134th in the world. What followed across five days of tennis was one of the most unexpected and thrilling runs the Canadian Open has produced in the modern era.

His third round victory over Rafael Nadal was the defining moment. Nadal was world No. 2, a three time Canadian Open champion, and one of the most feared hard court players on the tour. Shapovalov defeated him in straight sets with a display of aggressive left-handed shotmaking that left the Montreal crowd in complete disbelief.

His 2017 Montreal run at a glance:

Reaching the semifinal as a wildcard ranked 134th made him the youngest player in history to reach an ATP Masters 1000 semifinal. That single result propelled him from No. 134 to No. 51 in the world rankings and launched one of the most anticipated careers in Canadian tennis history.

The Montreal crowd gave him a reception that night that he has spoken about many times since. It was the moment Shapovalov understood exactly what playing at home meant.

Titles and Records

Denis Shapovalov has built a career that places him among the most important Canadian tennis players of his generation, with four ATP titles and a consistent presence in the upper reaches of the world rankings across nearly a decade of professional competition.

Career title breakdown:

Key career records and milestones:

• Reached a career high ranking of world No. 10 in 2020, the third highest ever achieved by a Canadian male tennis player
• Youngest player to reach an ATP Masters 1000 semifinal in history, at the 2017 Canadian Open aged 18
• Reached the Wimbledon semifinal in 2021, his best Grand Slam result, defeating two time Wimbledon champion Andy Murray along the way
• Won the Davis Cup with Canada in 2022 alongside Felix Auger-Aliassime and Vasek Pospisil
• Won the junior Wimbledon singles title in 2016, the third Canadian to win a junior Grand Slam singles title
• Won the junior US Open doubles title in 2015 alongside Felix Auger-Aliassime
• Voted ATP Most Improved Player and ATP Star of Tomorrow in 2017
• Won four career ATP titles, all on hard courts, including his biggest at the ATP 500 level in Dallas in 2025
• Defeated three top 10 players at the 2025 Dallas Open, Fritz, Paul, and Ruud, on his way to the title

Latest Canadian Open Appearances

Denis Shapovalov continues to compete at the Canadian Open as one of Canada’s most recognisable and popular ATP players, even as injury disruptions have occasionally limited his availability at the tournament in recent years.

His most recent Canadian Open appearances have come during a period of career rebuilding and renewed form that produced two ATP titles in 2025 and a return to the top 30 in the world rankings.

Recent Canadian Open appearances:

Shapovalov’s relationship with the Canadian Open crowd has never dimmed despite the results not always matching his 2017 semifinal heights. The home fans in Montreal and Toronto understand exactly what his left-handed shotmaking and one-handed backhand represent for Canadian tennis and respond to him with the same enthusiasm they showed during his breakthrough week eight years ago.

His 2025 season, which produced titles in Dallas and Los Cabos and saw him defeat three top 10 players in a single tournament, suggested that his most productive years on tour may still be ahead of him.

For a complete look at all Canadian players competing at the Canadian Open, explore our full Canadian Open players guide.

Conclusion

Denis Shapovalov arrived at the 2017 Canadian Open as an 18 year old wildcard and left as the youngest Masters 1000 semifinalist in history, having defeated Rafael Nadal along the way. That week in Montreal set the tone for everything that followed.

Four ATP titles, a Wimbledon semifinal, a Davis Cup championship, and a playing style so distinctive and entertaining that Canadian tennis fans pack stadiums just to watch him strike the ball. His left-handed serve and one-handed backhand remain among the most recognisable weapons on the entire ATP tour.

To follow his progress at the Canadian Open alongside every other player in the draw, explore our full Canadian Open players guide for entry list updates and tournament news.