Shapovalov cracked the top 50(Picture: Getty)

Denis Shapovalov cracked the top-50 for the first time on Monday to become the youngest player to do so since Rafael Nadal in 2004.

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The Canadian hotshot wowed the tennis world with his sparkling displays in the American hardcourt swing, which saw him reach the semi-finals of the Rogers Cup in Montreal before coming all the way through qualifying to reach the fourth round of the US Open.

And Shapovalov’s fine summer form has seen him break the top-50 in style.

The 18-year-old is only bettered by Nadal in the age department in the last 13 years and his feat is made all the more impressive by the fact that he’s broken through even quicker than ‘Big Four’ members Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray.


ATP rankings today and November 1, 2004 Current ATP top five + Shapovalov 1. Nadal

2. Federer

3. Murray

4. Zverev

5. Cilic

50. Shapovalov 2004 ATP top five + Nadal 1. Federer

2. Roddick

3. Hewitt

4. Moya

5. Coria

48. Nadal

Nadal has gone on to win 16 Grand Slam titles (Picture: AP)

Djokovic broke his way into the top-50 shortly after his 19th birthday, while Murray was also 18 but closer to turning 19 than the blond-haired ace.



There’s plenty of work for Shapovalov to do, of course, but at a time where tennis is desperate for the younger generation to truly challenge the old guard, he is arguably the light that is shining brightest.

He will now look to continue his rapid rise at the Shanghai Masters, where he has been handed a tricky draw.

His campaign in China begins against experienced Serb Viktor Troicki and should he battle through that, he will take on fifth seed and 2017 French Open semi-finalist Dominic Thiem.

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