Denis Shapovalov has quite a lot of positives happening in his life. He was married to longtime fiancé Mirjam Bjorklund in 2025 in an intimate ceremony in Greece final September. The Canadian referred to as it essentially the most joyous second of his life.
His on-court life has been removed from a honeymoon in 2026, nonetheless.
Accidents and tough luck have stored him below .500 for the season, at 13-16, and his lengthy awaited journey to Montreal for the Canadian Masters resulted in a disappointing retirement this week (4-6 6-4 3-0 RET to Zachary Svajda).
The previous World No.10, who reached the ultimate in Los Cabos only a week in the past, however suffered an ankle damage within the course of, says he did the whole lot he can to point out up in good type at his house Masters, however issues didn’t work out.
2026, a ache – actually.
From his final match at Indian Wells – a loss to Jannik Sinner – to his first match at Queen’s Membership, Sinner misplaced eight of ten.
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“It’s been very tough,” he mentioned. “It’s been an annoying yr. I’ve been constructing good momentum, taking part in effectively in Indian Wells. Miami, okay, it was powerful. After which accidents type of began thereafter.”
Clay, by no means his finest floor, resulted in additional matches and begins.
“Even weeks, like Munich, the place I used to be type of constructing some momentum, had been interrupted by pains and aches. And it’s simply been type of one factor after one other, it looks like.”
The Canadian went to Wimbledon, the place he’s a former semifinalist, with an excellent greater subject. None of it has killed his self-belief, nonetheless.
“I performed Wimbledon with a fractured rib,” he mentioned. “I performed right here with a swollen ankle. And, yeah, I’m nonetheless competing. I’m nonetheless near the [top guys]… the important thing for me is to attempt to take a bit extra time and be wholesome.”
Shapovalov is aware of it isn’t straightforward to take day off, particularly with a rating of No.43, the place he’s on the cusp of being seeded at Slams.
“Sadly this tour these days may be very unforgiving,” he mentioned. “There’s not many weeks the place you possibly can simply sit again and relaxation. It’s powerful. However, yeah, we now have to do it.”
He referred to Jack Draper, who has had even greater struggles and has been compelled to tug out of the final two majors for example.
“A man like Jack, simply for example, he’s been struggling, and he’s been having to make some powerful calls, even final week in Washington pulling out,” Shapovalov mentioned.
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“So I may need to begin making a few of these harder calls quickly, simply prioritizing the physique, as a result of, once more, I do know that if I’m wholesome and I’m taking part in effectively, I’m capable of produce a excessive degree.”
Chris Oddo. Chris Oddo is a contract sportswriter, podcaster, blogger and social media marker who’s a lead contributor to Tennisnow.com. He additionally writes for USOpen.org, Rolandgarros.com, BNPParibasOpen.com, TennisTV.com, WTAtennis.com and the official US Open program.
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