“She has a big impact on my game”: Denis Shapovalov highlights wife Mirjam’s role during difficult moments

Denis Shapovalov has spoken candidly about the importance of his wife Mirjam as a support system during the demanding life of a professional tennis player, describing their relationship as “very special” while reflecting on how she helps him navigate the pressures of the ATP Tour. The Canadian shared the comments during the Racquets & Relationships series, emphasising the value of having someone who understands the realities of life in professional tennis.

The discussion emerged during the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells, where Shapovalov’s run ended in the third round with a 6-3, 6-2 defeat to world No. 2 Jannik Sinner. Despite the loss, the Canadian had shown resilience earlier in the tournament, surviving a dramatic final-set tie-break against Argentina’s Tomas Martin Etcheverry to reach the last 32.

Now ranked No. 39 in the ATP Rankings, Shapovalov continues to search for consistency after a challenging period marked by injuries and fluctuating results. The former Wimbledon semi-finalist has frequently spoken about the mental demands of the tour, noting that having someone who helps him “through everything” can be crucial during difficult stretches.

For Shapovalov, that stability comes from a relationship built over several years. The Canadian and Mirjam Shapovalova (formerly Bjorklund) began dating in 2019 and married roughly six months ago, with the player describing their communication and shared experiences as an important foundation during his career on tour.

Professional tennis often requires players to cope with pressure, travel and extended periods away from home. Shapovalov explained that having someone who understands those realities has made a significant difference in his life both personally and professionally.

“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.”

According to the Canadian, his wife has become the person with whom he shares the most about the difficulties he encounters during the season. While he often keeps his struggles private from others, Mirjam has remained a constant presence during the more challenging moments of his career.

“I think she’s the person that I talk to the most about everything, especially about the tough things. I feel like I don’t really let too many people know what I’m dealing with at the time. I feel like she’s one of the only people who helps me out and goes through everything with me.”

The connection between the two is strengthened by the fact that Mirjam understands the demands of professional tennis firsthand. The Swedish player reached a career-high ranking of No. 123 on the WTA Tour and competed in three Grand Slam main draws during the 2022 and 2023 seasons before ending her career last year because of injury problems.

Because of her background on the professional circuit, Shapovalov said their conversations often include detailed discussions about his game. The Canadian noted that Mirjam regularly offers insights and suggestions about tactics and adjustments that he can make during matches.

“She helps me out a lot. She was a very smart player. She sees the game really well, and she knows me really well. So we definitely talk a bunch about my game, what I should be doing, little adjustments I could be making, and she’s even been helping me out on court a little bit since the Australian Open. She definitely has a big impact on it.”

Shapovalov also described his wife as someone who pushes him to work harder and analyse the details of his performance. He suggested that her perspective often helps him evaluate situations in a more constructive way.

“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. Not a lot of people are demanding, so I kind of enjoy that. And I feel like we can really dissect things and break things down. It helps a lot to have someone who is really detail-oriented.”

Looking ahead to the next stretch of the ATP season following his Indian Wells exit, Shapovalov indicated that maintaining balance remains a priority. “I definitely think it’s very special that I have her. I think we do a good job of talking a lot and talking in a good way that helps us grow as people. I know I’m not perfect, and she definitely helps me want to be better and just work on myself every day.”