Denis Shapovalov is aiming for a return to the top of the men’s tennis rankings.

His performances over the past season have convinced the man who was once seen as a rising star that he will succeed.

While Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner – the two best players in the world – captivated the tennis world in 2025 and Félix Auger-Aliassime caught the attention of Canadians by reaching the semi-finals of the United States Open, Shapovalov quietly prepared his comeback.

Shapovalov, who will begin his 2026 season at the Brisbane International Tournament this weekend, won two ATP titles in 2025. He notably won a first 500-level tournament with victories against three opponents of the top 10 at the Dallas Open, and returned to the top 25 for the first time since August 2023.

The 26-year-old Ontarian finished the year ranked 23^e step, rising gradually after falling to 140^e place following a serious knee injury which disrupted his 2023 season and which lasted until 2024.

Andy Roddick, former world No. 1 and influential tennis content broadcaster, has noted Shapovalov’s return, calling it “one of the most undertold stories” of 2025.

“He went from 150^e place, after having lost the plot a little and perhaps lacking inspiration, then we look up and… “Shapo” is 23^e worldwide,” Roddick noted on the December 23 episode of his podcast Served with Andy Roddick.

“It’s a comeback that no one has talked about enough, in my opinion. We take our hats off to him! ” added Roddick.

Shapovalov says he has already proven he can compete with the best, but maintaining a competitive edge for the duration of a grueling match, and for an entire season, has often eluded a player known for his combative style and occasional moments of impatience on court.

A few rounds before Auger-Aliassime lost to Sinner in the semifinals of the U.S. Open, Shapovalov won the first set against Sinner, then world number 1, but lost the next three.

“We saw when I played against Jannik Sinner at the US Open that when I’m at the top of my game, I’m able to compete with the best,” he analyzed.

“We felt that perhaps the biggest difference is that I tend to slip a little physically. »

Shapovalov made a splash on the ATP Tour with impressive results at an early age.

At just 18 years old, Shapovalov upset Rafael Nadal in the third round of the 2017 Rogers Cup in Montreal, moving from 200^e place at 51^e place that year. At the age of 21, he entered the top 10.

According to him, achieving more consistent results is the key to getting back to the top of the rankings.

Shapovalov has been working with Swedish coach Mikael Tillström since last summer. He redoubled his efforts in training and pushed his physical limits in hopes of prolonging his high level of play.

“ [En 2026]I would like to go far in the Grand Slam tournaments and in the Masters,” he also admitted.

In terms of competition, however, Shapovalov plans to participate in fewer tournaments.

“It’s about maintaining that consistency,” he said in a video call from Dubai, where he spent most of his preseason training.

“And the best way for me to do that is first of all to play less, to play when I’m rested. »

Although he is only 26 years old and at the peak of his physical form, Shapovalov is no longer the young, violent player who wore his cap backwards.

He now has to deal with his injuries. He hurt his back during the Stockholm Open in October, and suffered inflammation in one of his knees at the end of the year.

Also, his life off the court has changed. In September, Shapovalov married his longtime girlfriend Mirjam Bjorklund (now Shapovalova), herself a tennis player.

Looking back, Shapovalov admits he lost his bearings after first entering the top 10.

“The ranking was extremely important to me, so much so that when I got there I was like, ‘OK, now what?’ », he relates.

“We find ourselves paralyzed, without really knowing what to do. We almost end up playing too much, because we wonder if we should keep pushing to try to go even higher. We’re losing sight of what got us to where we are. »