"It's about manners, treating people the way I'd want to be treated" - Denis Shapovalov on the need to respect athletes regardless of their laurels
Denis Shapovalov recently emphasized the need to respect all athletes regardless of their achievements, stating that they are just ordinary people at the end of the day.
Shapovalov has made an underwhelming start to the season, recording 7 losses in 14 matches so far. The Canadian has been subjected to a lot of criticism from fans and critics alike in recent weeks.
While Shapovalov appreciates constructive criticism, he is against disrespectful remarks towards athletes. The 23-year-old stated in a recent conversation that he always tries to treat people the way he himself wants to be treated.
"It’s always about manners, it’s honestly about always treating people the way I would want to be treated. It doesn’t really matter if you’re the best player in the world, the worst player in the world. It’s a separate thing in my opinion than being a person," Shapovalov told ATPTour.com.
Further elaborating on his stance, Shapovalov stated that athletes need to be treated just like any other normal person.
"I think in general being a person, it’s different. You’re an athlete but at the end of the day you’re a person, so I always try to treat people like I’d want to be treated. I think it’s from my upbringing as well," he said.
The Canadian also admitted that frustration often gets the better of him like any other player. However, he maintained that it is important not to let that frustration overwhelm him.
"It’s just a sport. It’s just a game. Obviously I want to be better and sometimes I’m frustrated on the court. But I think I do a good job of just not carrying it over because we’re very lucky. I’m living a good life," said Denis Shapovalov.
"I just need to sort of stick to my core values, stick to my game" - Denis Shapovalov
Denis Shapovalov is happy despite his recent struggles on tour. The lefty made it clear that he would stick to his natural game whatever the outcome may be.
"I think that’s always kind of been my game. I’m going to have ups and downs and that’s just kind of the way it goes when you’re an aggressive player," the Canadian said. "I just need to sort of stick to my core values, stick to my game, and know that I’m going to have some good runs and some bad runs."
Shapovalov most recently played at the 2023 Miami Open, where he suffered a third-round loss at the hands of Taylor Fritz.