By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Wednesday August 31, 2022
Flushing Meadows, NY—Denis Shapovalov hasn’t had the type of year many expected. After reaching the quarterfinals at the Australian Open, the Canadian has gone 1-2 at the majors and heads into the US Open looking for momentum after a turbulent season.
But the band is back together.
Shapovalov, who parted ways with longtime coach Mikhail Youzhny prior to the season, has re-hired the Russian who helped guide him to the Wimbledon semifinal in 2021.
It seems that Shapovalov sees Youzhny’s role a bit differently than he did before. He’s still working with Peter Polansky, and called the Russian, a former World No. 8, an “addition," while talking to reporters after his five-set win over Switzerland's Marc-Andrea Huesler.
“I think the team and everyone is on track,” he explained. “I think Mikhail is just an addition. Why I like Mikhail is because we worked in the past, and he knows me really well.
“I think that my team and Mikhail, we all have the same vision on how to play my game and how to get better. So for me, Mikhail is just an addition. I feel like obviously we've done well in the past, but I also think he's a super smart guy. He's just one more eye to the team that can help spot little differences and kind of help make a difference in my game and overall going forward.”
Shapovalov, who will face Roberto Carballes Baena in the second round at the Open, points to Youzhny’s familiarity with his game as a strong point. He believes that Polansky can grow his coaching chops by being side-by-side in this new arrangement as well.
“Obviously there's ups and downs, but I think we've all been putting the work in,” he said. “I think it's a great add to have a guy like Mischa, who has been a former player, that knows me already really well, that can help the rest of the team feel my emotions and understand me, but also just his experience playing big matches, leading up to slams, scheduling.
“I think it will be great for me and the team. Most of all I think for me it's great to have him by my side, just hear his opinions, hear what he's thinking, have reassurance from him as well.”
When asked if he had decided to keep Youzhny as part of his long-term team, Shapovalov said that is the goal, but added that the pair haven’t spoken much about the future yet.
“I don't build a team trying to have someone just for a little bit. I see the team that I have right now, I see them going forward for many years I hope,” he said. “I mean, hopefully he feels the same way. We haven't spoke about the future yet.”