WATCH: Shapovalov shows off athletic backhand prowess

By Van Sias Oct 10, 2017
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WATCH: Shapovalov shows off athletic backhand prowess

The Canadian teen took to the air in his match at the Shanghai Ma

ByVan Sias

Published Oct 10, 2017

If at first you don’t succeed, try to hit a leaping, crosscourt one-handed backhand for a winner again.

In the first round of Shanghai, Denis Shapovalov captured the first set against the veteran Viktor Troicki. Early in the second set, the two players were rallying when Shapovalov took to the air on a backhand. Troicki got the ball back and the rally resumed, but the Canadian teen took another crack at the same stroke and got the result he wanted: a highlight-reel-making winner.

Shapovalov is no stranger to dazzling off the backhand side. Case in point: this passing shot in Montreal, where he made a surprise run to the semifinals.

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Shapovalov ended up losing his match against Troicki in three sets, but it’s still been a big week for him as he made his debut in the Top 50 of the ATP rankings, becoming the youngest player to reach that milestone since Rafael Nadal in 2004.

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As for Troicki, the Serbian take on No. 5-seeded Dominic Thiem next, who also knows a thing or two about hitting explosive one-handers.

Follow Van on Twitter: @Van_Sias