The tennis ace with the world at his feet - teenager Denis Shapovalov is the very essence of the modern tennis pro.
Born in Israel, raised in Canada, fluent in Russian, and back in New Zealand.
Two seasons ago, he shocked the then-world number one Rafael Nadal to reach the semi-finals of the Montreal Masters.
But he found 2018 a little tougher as the grind of the tour took hold.
"I had my doubts if I could ever get my game back there," Shapovalov told Newshub.
He did indeed get his game back, and the 19-year-old will start 2019 - and the ASB Classic - as the youngest player in the world top thirty.
"I'm just super happy to be where I am at my age. I think it's incredible."
He's being hyped as a future Grand Slam winner and is using Auckland as his springboard to get there.
"I have that sense of calmness that I feel like my game belongs with these guys, and I feel like my game is where my ranking is."
Newshub.
