Denis Shapovalov speaking for Canada spoke about the defeat from the German Jan-Lennard Struff in the quarterfinals of the tournament in St. Petersburg and also noted the importance of Victory Day for all Russians.
– A very difficult match. The opponent played very well, at a very high level. I still feel jetlag, the schedule is not the most convenient for me, I really didn't manage to adapt. It's hard to counter Struff with his strong serve and the way he holds the backline like that. Already in the second set it was hard for me to return to the match. If he continues to play as he does today, he will definitely become a top 20 or even top 10 tennis player.
– There is an opinion abroad that the Russians should stop celebrating Victory Day, because it was all too long ago and it is time to move on. What do you think about this?
– I think this is very important. The Russians liberated the world from Nazism. Many families have lost loved ones – not only in Russia, everywhere. My great-grandfather went missing somewhere near St. Petersburg, his body was never found. It is incredibly difficult for the families of the victims, for those who did not wait for their relatives from the war. I don't think there is a need to raise such a question at all. I will always celebrate May 9, I will honor the memory of the victims. This is a large part of my history, which is also why I treat Russia and St. Petersburg with great warmth.
In the semifinals, Struff will play with American Taylor Fritz.
- Struff and Fritz made the first semi-final pair of the tournament in St. Petersburg