Denis Shapovalov defeated Elias Ymer 7–6(5), 6–7(4), 6–4 in a tense match at the Stockholm Open, but the spotlight shifted from the scoreline to his emotional outburst toward the Swedish crowd. His wife, Mirjam Björklund, is Swedish.
Heated Exchange in Stockholm
During the second set, Shapovalov grew visibly frustrated with the crowd’s reactions, shouting in their direction after several points. The tension escalated when he yelled, “Shut the f*** up!” toward a group of spectators, prompting a warning from the chair umpire. The atmosphere inside the arena turned hostile, with some fans booing the Canadian between serves.
Personal Connections and Public Pressure
The incident carried added weight given Shapovalov’s personal ties to Sweden. His wife, Mirjam Björklund, is a Swedish tennis player, and the couple often spends time in the country. That connection made the crowd’s reaction—and Shapovalov’s response—all the more jarring.
Post-Match Reflections
After the match, Shapovalov acknowledged the tension. “I love Sweden. I have family here. But tonight was really tough,” he said. The emotional toll was evident, even as he advanced to the next round.
A Match Overshadowed
Despite the high-quality tennis and a hard-fought victory, the night in Stockholm will be remembered more for the confrontation than the competition. Whether Shapovalov’s relationship with the Swedish crowd can be mended remains to be seen.
Denis Shapovalov was screaming at the Swedish crowd after being flipped off pic.twitter.com/Q4PCPs1X4y
— Barstool Tennis (@StoolTennis) October 17, 2025
ATP Stockholm - Denis Shapovalov's projected path
Shapovalov in Stockholm, ranking, and results in 2025
Ranked no.23, the Canadian has achieved a 24-19 record in 2025. Denis is currently playing in Stockholm where he beat the world no.622 Leo Borg 6-2 5-7 6-1 and the world no.243 Elias Ymer 6-4 6-7(3) 6-1.
Denis Shapovalov will come up against the world no.12 Casper Ruud in the semifinal. Their head to head is 2-1 for Ruud.
The Canadian has won 2 titles in 2025 in Dallas and Los Cabos.
The Canadian won 4 titles in his career: 1 on hard courts and 3 on indoor courts. (See the list of his titles)
