Top seed Shapovalov is confident ahead of Qatar ExxonMobil Open

Top seed Denis Shapovalov feels confident ahead of this week’s Qatar ExxonMobil Open where the Canadian would be looking to bag his first title of the new season.The 32-player field has attracted former champion Roberto Bautista-Agut of Spain, defending champion Nikoloz Basilashvili of Georgia and 2014 US Open winner Marin Cilic of Croatia.Great Britain’s Daniel Evans is seeded five while Russia’s Karen Kachanov is the sixth seed at the $1.2mn tournament to be played at the iconic Khalifa Tennis and Squash Complex from Feb 14-19.Alexander Bublik is seeded seven while Lloyd Harris is the eighth seed at the popular event.World number 12 Shapovalov, who has a bye in the first round, yesterday said he felt ready to launch his Doha campaign with a win.“Any tournament you go to, it has a strong field. It’s a difficult tournament for sure. In terms of my game, I feel good. Conditions are pretty similar to Australia actually,” Shapavalov said yesterday.“I played really well there (in Melbourne). Just a little bit comfortable on the courts here. The balls are the same as in Australia. I feel comfortable with myself and my game. The practice sessions I had here felt good. I am feeling really, really good. Hopefully I can have a great week. I am looking forward to playing here.“It’s an amazing place. One of the best weeks on Tour, really. So I am excited to start here,” the 22-year-old Canadian said.Last month, Shapovalov lost to eventual Australian Open winner Rafael Nadal in the quarter-finals. The tall Canadian said he is in ‘privilege class’ to be the top seeded at the Qatar ExxonMobil Open, now into its 30th year.“First of all, there’s always pressure in any match you play. Obviously there’s different pressure as a top seed compared to an underdog,” Shapovalov explained.“For sure, it is different (being seeded) and it is something I am learning to deal with well. It’s definitely something I am working on. I think it is a privilege to be seeded and have that pressure in general. I think it is something that top players get used to and they do a good job of it,” he added.The rising Canadian star said he is keen to deliver improved performances in Doha and in the rest of the season.“I just want to improve my game, I don’t really have so many goals. I just want to keep getting better in the areas I can improve,” Shapovalov said.“I feel like if I can become a better tennis player, the (good) results would come on their own. (It’s) not about any specific results for me. It’s just about improving every day. I just look forward to getting back to work and just putting in the time, and really working as a team and try to be a better tennis player.Shapovalov said he has the game to challenge the top players though he could not go past Novak Djokovic at Wimbledon semi-finals last year before losing to Nadal at the Australian Open last month.“I think against Novak, the occasion probably got to me (last year in the Wimbledon semi-finals). I was a little bit more in the moment than the match itself,” Shapovalov said yesterday. “I was playing well but wasn’t able to hold on to the lead in the first set. “Against Rafa (in the Australian Open quarter-finals), I think it was a great match. He just played better in the fifth set. The level was really high. He’s an unbelievable player. I played good tennis though,” he said.Shapovalov, who is in the top half of the draw, is expected to meet third seed Basilashvili who beat Bautista-Agut in the title clash last year. The two could meet in the quarter-finals of the six-day tournament where former champion Andy Murray of Great Britain is appearing with a wildcard. Murray beat Basilashvili in a thrilling five-set clash at the Australian Open last month.If Murray goes past Japan’s Taro Daniel in their first-round clash, then the Briton is lined up to play against this week’s second seed Bautista-Agut, the 2019 winner in Doha. Fourth seed in Doha, Cilic could be playing sixth seed Kachanov in the quarter-finals this week. Winner of 20 titles, Cilic bagged the 2014 US Open title and was a runner-up to Roger Federer in the Australian Open final in 2018.The title winner in Doha picks up $$114,875 while the losing finalist takes home $$80,410.