Denis Shapovalov has long been one of tennis’s biggest ‘what if’ stories. The Canadian had the shots and the talent to reach the very top, but despite building a respectable career, he has yet to fulfil the promise he showed early on. Now ranked 52nd in the world, the former Wimbledon semi-finalist is still trying to rediscover the level that once took him into the top 10.Shapovalov rose quickly through the ranks after making his first mark on the ATP Tour. In 2017, he climbed from 250th to 49th in the world, announcing himself as a player to watch. One of the highlights of that season came at the Canadian Open, where he reached the semi-finals before losing to Novak Djokovic.He broke into the top 30 in 2018 and won his first ATP title at the Sofia Open in 2019, beating Filip Krajinovic in the final. A month later, he reached the final of the Paris Masters, giving himself a chance to claim the biggest title of his career at the time. But Djokovic proved too strong once again, beating him in straight sets.Shapovalov continued to make progress. In 2020, he reached his first Grand Slam quarter-final at the US Open and climbed to a career-high 10th in the world rankings. He took another step forward at Wimbledon in 2021, beating Andy Murray, Roberto Bautista Agut and Karen Khachanov to reach the semi-finals. Djokovic, who went on to win the title, ended his run there.It was the kind of performance that suggested Shapovalov could become a regular contender at the biggest tournaments. But the expected next step never came. He remained around the top 20 for some time before his results began to slide.He finished 2022 ranked 18th in the world, but fell outside the top 100 a year later. He recovered some ground and ended 2025 at No. 23, only to drop back towards the 50s. At 27, Shapovalov is still competing at a high level, but his career has not followed the path many expected. Fellow Canadian Felix Auger-Aliassime has also emerged as a prominent name in men’s tennis, adding another point of comparison for Shapovalov.
The results tell only part of the story, however. Away from the court, Shapovalov has found support in his wife, Mirjam Shapovalova, formerly Björklund, who understands the demands of professional tennis better than most.The couple began dating in 2019 and married in September 2025. Mirjam, a former Swedish tennis player, reached a career-high ranking of No. 123 in the WTA rankings and played in three Grand Slam main draws across 2022 and 2023. She ended her playing career last year after struggling with injuries.For Shapovalov, having someone who understands both the sport and the pressures that come with it has been important, particularly as he works to find his best form again.“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,” Shapovalov said in an interview with the ATP in March 2026. “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.”Shapovalov, who reached a career-high No. 10 in the PIF ATP Rankings, has spoken about how much he relies on his wife during difficult periods. He said he does not often share everything he is dealing with, making her support especially valuable.“I think she’s the person that I talk to the most about everything, especially about the tough things,” Shapovalov said. “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.”Their relationship also gives Shapovalov someone to turn to for advice about his game. Having played professionally herself, Mirjam can understand the technical and tactical challenges he faces. The two regularly discuss his performances, and she has even helped him on court since the Australian Open.“She helps me out a lot. She was a very smart player. She sees the game really well, and she knows me really well,” Shapovalov said. “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.”But the support has never been one-sided. Shapovalov was also there for Mirjam during her playing career, attending her matches whenever possible. With her retirement, he is conscious of making sure their relationship remains balanced as their lives change.“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,” Shapovalov said. “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. I thought it was fun to have someone living the same life as me. I think we both do a good job of, I don’t want to say sacrificing, but making an effort for each other.”The end of Mirjam’s playing career has changed their circumstances, but their shared experience of professional tennis continues to shape their relationship. They understand the demands of the tour, the uncertainty of results and the work required to keep going when things do not go as planned.For Shapovalov, the challenge remains finding a way back to the level that once made him one of the most promising players of his generation. His career has had its share of highs and setbacks, but he has someone beside him who knows what that journey involves.
