While Canada is not considered to be a major powerhouse in tennis yet, it is without question one of, if not the most promising up-and-coming nations in the tennis world. The reason for this is a strong crop of junior players led by Denis Shapovalov and Félix Auger-Aliassime. Despite a doubles loss together on Tuesday at the Rogers Cup, both have impressed the home fans.

This tournament was a taste of the spotlight that the pair will need to come to expect as they progress into stars on the ATP World Tour. After their doubles loss, they spoke about how things are changing as they begin to take the next steps towards stardom.

A Tournament to remember

While the 2016 Rogers Cup is not the first main tour event of Shapovalov’s career, it’s the biggest to date, highlighted by his epic first round win over Nick Kyrgios. The Wimbledon junior champion became an overnight celebrity and was asked about how he’s dealing with the newly-found spotlight. Shapovalov said “yeah, it's exciting. Trying to not look at it too much.  In that way, I'm just trying to focus on myself, focus on playing the match. I'm not trying to look around too much. But, yeah, of course it's exciting.

Shapovalov fires up the crowd during his first round singles win. Photo: Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images
Shapovalov fires up the crowd during his first round singles win. Photo: Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images

Auger-Aliassime was making his ATP World Tour debut this week in Toronto, and while he failed to win a set in either singles or doubles, the French Open junior runner-up still enjoyed his debut on home soil. Of his debut, Auger-Aliassime said “it's been a good experience being my first ATP tournament. It's always different to see all the really top guys being around you. It's obviously very great. And, yeah, just playing at home. I mean, the atmosphere was always great from the practice to the matches. And, yeah, played two great matches. Obviously could have been better, but I think the level is pretty close to theirs, so it's very motivating.”

Playing with the stars

One of the odd steps for a young player is suddenly finding yourself along side the players you grew up watching. Shapovalov and Auger-Aliassime spoke about their various experiences with the men who are now their peers.

Shapovalov spoke first, talking about how “when I was younger, just in the locker room, Mikhail Youzhny came up to me and we started talking in Russian. When I was younger, I was at the Rogers Cup, I got a picture with him.  He was a star for me. And now you're in the locker room with these guys, you're living with these guys.  It's completely different now. Of course it's exciting. Still a little bit new for me, but I'm getting used to it.

Auger-Aliassime (left) and Shapovalov during their doubles loss against Troicki and Tomic. Photo: Pete Borkowski/VAVEL USA
Auger-Aliassime (left) and Shapovalov during their doubles loss against Troicki and Tomic. Photo: Pete Borkowski/VAVEL USA

As for Auger-Aliassime, “talked to [Jo-Wilfried] Tsonga, met him last year in Montreal, talked to him a little bit during the French Open. Yeah, especially also that my coach is French. We kind of get to talk a bit with them and have chats and get some hits. All the players, they're really great with us. Yeah, they have been a good model.”

When asked whether or not the tour regulars knew who they were, Auger-Aliassime explained that “yeah, they kind of. I mean, a lot of pro players get into the junior tour to see who's coming up.  I think, yeah, they kind of follow who's coming up.  You know, it's good that they see what we are doing and hopefully we can reach that level sooner.

Auger-Aliassime lost in qualifying in singles and in the first round of doubles. Shapovalov is still alive in singles and will take on Grigor Dimitrov on Wendesday night.

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About the author
Pete Borkowski
Tennis has always been my obsession. What better way to channel that obsession than writing about it? After 18 months of blogging with Sportsblog.com as the writer of A Fan Obsesseds blog, all the while completing my Bachelors in history and French, I joined VAVEL so that I can better share my love and knowledge of tennis with the world.