The teenager who toppled world number one Rafael Nadal on his way to reaching the semi-finals of the Montreal Masters in August will play in the ASB tennis classic in Auckland in the New Year.
Eighteen year old Canadian Denis Shapovalov started the year ranked at 250 but has broken into the world's top 50 to now sit at 49th.
He's the youngest player to crack the top 50 since Nadal did in 2004 and with two more ATP tournaments left in the year he could yet rise further.
Denis Shapovalov Photo: Supplied
Tournament director Karl Budge said Shapovalov's signing was the one "we have wanted all year. There is no question he is the future of men's tennis and what he's achieved this year has been staggering".
Former world number one Pete Sampras believes he will become a top two player whilst seven-time Grand Slam Champion Mats Wilander compared him to two of the games greats.
"He is a serious talent. To be 100 percent honest, you cannot compare Shapovalov to any other youngster.
"He is a completely different level. It's like watching a combination of [Rafael] Nadal and [Roger] Federer at 18 years old. He has the fire of Nadal and the speed around the court of Nadal and he has the grace of Federer. It's unbelievable."
