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Denis Shapovalov’s Wife Mirjam Is Now His Coach: All About Their Special Partnership
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- Denis Shapovalov’s Wife Mirjam Is Now His Coach: All About Their Special Partnership
Denis Shapovalov faces a huge test at the 2026 US Open as he takes on American No. 8 seed Ben Shelton in the third round at Arthur Ashe Stadium. The match is scheduled to begin around 8:30 PM EDT, following the highly anticipated doubles clash between Venus and Serena Williams.
The matchup will be another difficult challenge for Shapovalov, who will have to find a way past a player who has dominated their previous meetings. Shelton holds a perfect 4-0 record against the Canadian, making this one of the toughest tests of Shapovalov's US Open campaign.
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Denis Shapovalov celebrates after defeating Miomir Kecmanovic during the 2026 US Open 1st round. (Photo by Caleb Bowlin/Getty Images)Caleb Bowlin/Getty Images
But while Shapovalov will be focused on finding a way past Shelton on court, he will have a familiar face guiding him from his player box – his wife, Mirjam Shapovalova.
Denis Shapovalov and Mirjam Shapovalova's Love Story
Denis and Mirjam Björklund first crossed paths as teenagers on the international junior tennis circuit. Born just months apart, the two knew of each other through tournament draws before eventually reconnecting on the professional tour.
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Their friendship eventually turned into a relationship, with the couple beginning to date on June 26, 2019. They made their relationship public later that year, sharing photos from a trip to Athens, Greece, on Instagram.
After four years together, Denis proposed to Mirjam on July 20, 2023, choosing Bastad, Sweden, as the backdrop for the proposal. The couple married on September 9, 2025, in an intimate seaside ceremony at Lesante Cape in Zakynthos, Greece, surrounded by around 30 family members and close friends.
The wedding also featured an editorial with Vogue Scandinavia , while their tuxedo-clad dog, Yatzy, became one of the highlights of the official wedding photos.
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Following their marriage, Mirjam legally took Denis' surname. She had previously enjoyed a successful tennis career of her own, reaching a career-high ranking of No. 123 in the world before stepping away from the WTA Tour.
Mirjam Has Now Become Denis' Coach
Their relationship took an interesting turn professionally in 2026. Following the Dubai Tennis Championships, Denis parted ways with his coach Mikael Tillström and made the decision to put Mirjam in charge of his tennis operations.
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Mirjam had already been helping Denis on the practice courts in Dubai, and from February 2026, she stepped into a much bigger role as the sole coaching presence traveling with him on tour.
Her experience as a former professional player gives her a detailed understanding of the demands of the tour as well as Denis' game. The arrangement has also allowed Shapovalov to operate with a much smaller team, with his wife serving as the primary voice during his tactical preparation and practice sessions.
Now, that partnership is facing one of its biggest tests yet. With Shelton standing between Shapovalov and the fourth round at the US Open, Mirjam will once again be in his box as the Canadian attempts to overcome his difficult head-to-head record against the American and keep his Grand Slam campaign alive.
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2026 US Open Essentials
This story was originally published by Athlon Sports on Sep 5, 2026, where it first appeared in the Tennis section. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
