Andy Roddick on Denis "Night Train" Shapovalov's big win

It wasn't the kind of night session Flushing Meadows is normally known for, but Denis "Night Train" Shapovalov, as he does with so many things, made it his own.

With a barrage of swerving aces ...

Curving forehands ...

And precision-placement backhands, Shapovalov overwhelmed former US Open and Cincinnati champion Marin Cilic, 6-3, 6-3, on an empty Grandstand in just an hour and 18 minutes.

However, it wasn't just risky down-the-line shots that earned him the comfortable win, Andy Roddick pointed out on Tennis Channel Live after the match, but more his dynamic percentage play all over the court, from the net to the back fence.

"He was aggressive, but maybe to the bigger parts of the court tonight, which felt more solid," Roddick said. "I actually like the fact that he was backing way up. He has enough weight-of-shot to actually be really effective stepping way back. I kinda like the adjustments after five or six months from him."

To the surprise of no one who's followed him over the years, Roddick also couldn't help but provide a biting analysis of Shapovalov's newly released song and music video, "Night Train."

"My favorite thing is the video is just like fast cars, things that have nothing to do with anything—and then pictures of backhands," he joked. "It's like a heavy-metal concert, some guy boxing, and ME HITTING A BAKCHAND, YEAH ... I say hell yeah, why not? 'Night Train,' let's go!"

"All I know is that he better play good tennis," Roddick concluded his review, "'because the rapping ain't paying for its own studio time."

In the second round of the Western & Southern Open, he'll face Jan-Lennard Struff, who defeated Alex De Minaur on Saturday, 6-2, 6-4.

It's easy for fans to pass judgment on Shapovalov for doing something as un-asked-for as recording a bold rap track. But, really, it's an example of the same kind of audacity necessary to pull off shots that few other players would dare to even try.

The Night Train might sometimes be reckless, but it sure is fun to watch.