Denis Shapovalov says wife Mirjam Bjorklund has helped his game ahead of Dubai debut
denis shapovalov says his wife has become a key voice in his preparations as he gets ready to play the ATP 500 in Dubai, where he will open the tournament against Pablo Carreno Busta in the first round.
Denis Shapovalov on his Dubai opener
Shapovalov, who lives in Dubai and is not seeded at the ATP 500 in the city, will face Pablo Carreno Busta in the first round of the event in his place of residence; he told interviewers in the mixed zone that he arrives with confidence to get a good result.
The Canadian pointed to recent form when discussing the tournament: he followed a semifinal run in Dallas with a determination to build on those matches, and he noted that last year he won two titles but also experienced low periods that he wants to avoid this season.
Wife Mirjam Bjorklund’s role in practice and preparation
Shapovalov said Mirjam Bjorklund, who was a player on the WTA circuit, has been helping him work through tactical choices; they married at the end of last year, and he credited her advice with being "very helpful in Dallas and hopefully will be here as well, " remarks he made while preparing for Dubai.
He described their conversations about his game and pointed out that her past as a player gives her a clear view of what to tweak in practice, a dynamic he called useful during his transitional period back toward peak form.
Consistency, rankings and the road back to the top 10
Ranked number 36 in the ATP rankings, Shapovalov said he aims to "be more consistent to return to the top 10, " noting that reaching the top 10 previously coincided with the Covid era and that the tour has become tougher as new players emerge alongside Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz.
He reminded listeners that he was last in the top 10 on September 6, 2021, and added that the path back requires "excellent results throughout the year, " a goal he intends to pursue this season while playing events such as the Dubai ATP 500.
For now the next confirmed milestone is his first-round match in Dubai against Pablo Carreno Busta at the ATP 500, where Shapovalov will try to turn the recent confidence and coaching input from Mirjam Bjorklund into a deep run at an event in the city he calls home.
