Myriam Backlund and Denis Shapovalov got engaged in Bastad

24-year-old professional tennis player Miriam Björklund, ranked 132 in the world, lost to American top seed Emma Navarro, in the second round of the Swedish Open.

She was there in Bastad with her family and a friend; fellow Canadian Denis Shapovalov, seeded 23rd in the men’s team. After losing to the American (7-6, 1-6, 6-1), the group had dinner on the beach. But Björklund was still feeling let down after the match, and wasn’t particularly keen to walk out, she told Aftonbladet.

– I just felt: “Oh, I can’t stand it,” she says.

But after convincing family and friends, I hit the water. Shapovalov proposed there on the beach in the Swedish Mecca.

– It was so cute and interesting that he did it in Bastad when my whole family was there. We can go out and celebrate together and experience this moment together. It’s something I’ve dreamed about since I was young and ever since I met him, says Björklund.

Miriam Bjorklund is the second highest ranked Swedish player in the world. At the end of June, she won the ITF tournament in Great Britain, at which time the Swede managed to defeat Emma Navarro in the final.