Denis Shapovalov, the sad and resigned decline of an infinite talent

Diego Jiménez Rubio | 18 Jun 2026 | 16.57

Denis Shapovalov, reasons for his decline. Photo: gettyimages

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Denis Shapovalov walks around the circuit without distinction, something unthinkable for a player of his talent, unlimited potential, and charisma. The young man who burst into the elite by defeating legends and entering the top 10 is now a soulless tennis player, resigned to remaining among the top 50 in the world out of inertia, lacking that inner spark that would make us believe in his resurgence. What has happened to him?

Left-handed, with a one-handed backhand, electric in his movements, powerful in his shots, attractive in all aspects, and a rough diamond for any brand. That's how Denis Shapovalov was years ago. Do you remember that young man who, at 17, defeated Nadal in Canada and seemed ready to conquer the world? Everyone seemed amazed by the emergence of a player capable of doing absolutely everything on the court, with an unlimited technical repertoire and an exciting freshness.

Shapovalov has the talent to stay in the elite, but has lost his spark and ambition

Only embers remain from that, or perhaps even less. It seems unbelievable that a player of this caliber, at 27 years old, is practically forgotten by all fans. No one expects anything from Shapovalov, which is a clear indicator of what his recent years have been like. Injuries, inconsistency, tough losses... All mixed together have resulted in a bland cocktail, devoid of magic, a mere shadow of that vibrant young man capable of thrilling everyone on the court.

Something broke within Denis on January 25, 2022. He was playing his third Grand Slam quarterfinal against Nadal. His gameplay during that match was exquisite until he was at the brink of glory. Rafa was physically struggling, having lost two sets after winning the initial two, and his defeat seemed certain. But Shapovalov hesitated, and at that moment, he realized it, Rafa realized it, and we all realized that he lacked that touch of magic and competitive character that only a few possess.

He held onto his place among the top 20, endured a serious knee injury, and faced the realization that the path he had traveled must be traversed again. This time without the novelty factor, without the joy of exploring an exciting path to glory, and with the feeling that he couldn't do all that his coaches demanded of him. Youzhny, Tipsarevic, and Tillstrom tried to tame this wild horse, provide him with the necessary tactical tools to fully exploit his infinite talent, but nothing has worked.

Denis Shapovalov has been coached by his wife, Mirjam Bjorklund, for months

It seems that Shapovalov has chosen a path with full conviction, a path that is more than respectable. He knows that with his basic tennis and minimal effort, he can maintain a good ranking and even win tournaments, as he did last year in Los Cabos and Dallas. With a few weeks of inspiration, his natural tennis guides him to comfortably stay among the top 50, 40, or even 30 in the world. He has given up on clay, officially declaring his aversion to this surface, and no longer makes an effort to improve on it, while seeming resigned to losing to players of higher caliber than his own.

He has comfortably chosen his wife, former tennis player Mirjam Bjorklund, as his coach, accompanying him around the world throughout the year. After his recent loss at Queen's to De Miñaur, the comments of Pat Cash, a former Grand Slam champion, went viral, as reported by Tennis365, criticizing the lack of tactical variety in the Canadian's game.

"We know his plan A. Serving strongly, making spectacular shots, but if things don't go well, what does he do? It must be very frustrating to work with him. I would love to sit down with Denis, make him react, bring out his character. We say he has all the shots, but in reality, it's not the case. Tennis is a sport of controlled aggressiveness, and he lacks that transitional shot that allows him to dominate without taking excessive risks, the shot that enables him to switch from defense to attack," the Australian emphasized.

These are harsh words but clearly express the general feeling in the tennis world about a player who has let go, who has raised the white flag. It is a decision as respectable, honest, and understandable as it is painful for all lovers of this sport, watching one of the great talents and personalities of the world of tennis fading away to the point of being unrecognizable. Denis Shapovalov is only 27 and could eventually find the drive to change this situation. Will he?

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Denis Shapovalov, el triste y resignado ocaso de un talento infinito

Denis Shapovalov