"Every time I play Nadal it's an honour" says Denis Shapovalov after winning their Abu Dhabi match

The Canadian played some solid tennis overall at the event and it's an encouraging sign for Shapovalov who is yet to fully break out in the world of tennis. The Canadian is widely considered one of the biggest talents in recent memory but he has never quite figured it out yet. Against Nadal, he played very well overall coming back to win the match.

He saif after:

"Every time I can step onto the pitch with someone like Rafa, it's an honour. I played three great matches. I hope to be able to come here for many years to come. After three or four weeks of preparation for the new season, it is nice to see that my game is there. Even if I still have to work on a few areas."

Focus now shifts to the Australian Open where Shapovalov will be hoping for a great result in conditions that rather favour his playstyle. Whether he can do it remains to be seen.