Denis Shapovalov is competing impressively at the BNP Paribas Open, an ATP Masters 1000 tournament taking place from March 4 to 15 at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden. The Canadian star has reached the round of 32 and recently shared his admiration for his wife, Mirjam Shapovalova (formerly Björklund), the former Swedish player, and the pivotal role she plays in his life and career.
Denis Shapovalov Reflects on the Significance of His Relationship With Wife Mirjam Shapovalova
Shapovalov and Björklund, the former World No. 123, began their relationship in 2019 and eventually moved to the next step with their engagement in July 2023. The couple, who are also pet parents to a dog named Yatzy, tied the knot in September last year at Lesante Cape in Zakynthos, Greece, overlooking the scenic Ionian Sea.
After getting married, Björklund announced her retirement from professional tennis at 27, having won 10 ITF singles titles, and has been playing an essential role throughout Shapovalov’s life, both personal and professional.
The ATP star, who has clinched four ATP singles titles in his career, recently reflected on his wife’s role, highlighting how, as a tennis player, she knows when he needs mental and emotional strength, as the sport can be taxing.
He expressed, according to the ATP Tour, “It’s super important because we’re tennis players, but we’re also people, and we deal with a lot of things in life that are not even tennis-related. To have someone who can just pick you up and help you out during the tough times, it’s super important for anyone to have.”
He also revealed that his wife is his main confidante, someone with whom he can share his innermost struggles, adding, “she’s the person that I talk to the most about everything, especially about the tough things,” and that “she’s pretty tough.”
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Björklund is also very much involved in his career, encouraging the former World No. 10 to work hard in practice and pushing him to improve further. He further shared, “I wouldn’t say she has high demands, but she definitely wants a lot out of practice and stuff like that. She wants me to try things, and it’s good.”
The former Swedish professional, who has also won two doubles titles on the ITF Women’s Circuit, hung up her racquet after sustaining injuries and said she was content with her decision, having achieved enough in her career and wanting to move on from the sport.
Shapovalov also expressed that he supports his wife after her retirement, mentioning, “I always wanted to be there for her. You can see how much she’s there for me, especially now that she has stopped playing. I think a lot of her life kind of revolves around me, so I definitely think it’s important to have an equal relationship, and I love supporting her.”
In his round of 32 match at the Indian Wells Open, Shapovalov is set to face World No. 2 Jannik Sinner, and the duo has a head-to-head record of 1-1.
