FRISCO, Texas—Denis Shapovalov has been on fire at the Dallas Open, taking down two of America’s top tennis stars to secure his spot in Sunday’s final. But what’s been fueling his success? A fierce competitive spirit—and some quality downtime with his fiancée, Mirjam Bjorklund, and their new puppy, Yatzy.
“We just got a puppy,” Shapovalov shared after his commanding 7-5, 6-3 victory over defending champion Tommy Paul. “Having Mirjam here with the dog, and with the hotel being so close, I’m really able to disconnect and enjoy my time.”
A Fresh Start in Dallas
The Canadian star came into the tournament with tempered expectations. A frustrating January, a bout of stomach flu, and a back issue before the Davis Cup left him searching for form. But something clicked in Texas.
“I had a really good pre-season and felt great in practice, but Australia didn’t go my way,” Shapovalov admitted. “This week shows all the work we’ve been putting in is really paying off.”
Loosening up and embracing a fighting mentality, the left-hander has flourished under the roof of the Ford Center at The Star. After surviving a tough three-set battle against Miomir Kecmanovic in his opening match, Shapovalov stunned fourth-ranked Taylor Fritz in a dramatic final-set tiebreaker. He then dispatched sixth seed Tomas Machac before eliminating Paul in the semis.
Embracing the Fight
“Not knowing what my game was gonna be like or how I’d feel physically took a lot of pressure off me,” he explained. “Even in practices, I wasn’t playing great, so I just embraced a fighting mindset. I’m really happy I’ve been able to find my game in matches and pull off some great wins.”
At the end of last season, Shapovalov ended a five-year title drought by winning in Belgrade. His current run in Dallas reminds him of that success, though he acknowledges that the stakes are higher this time with an ATP 500 title on the line.
“I’ve never won a 500 before, so this would be a big step for me,” he said. “At the end of the day, the most important thing is sticking to what’s worked all week—playing my game, enjoying myself, and giving my best. We’ll see if it’s in the stars.”
A Big Challenge Ahead
To claim the title, Shapovalov must overcome second seed Casper Ruud, who edged out Jaume Munar in a tense semifinal. Ruud leads their head-to-head 2-0, with both wins coming on clay.
If he pulls off the upset, would the Dallas Cowboys gain a new fan?
“They can have me because I don’t follow football,” he laughed. “I might watch the Super Bowl halftime show, but hockey is my sport. I’ll definitely be watching the Stanley Cup Finals.”
With momentum on his side, Shapovalov is ready to battle for the biggest trophy of his career.
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