Former World No. 10 Denis Shapovalov earned plaudits from tennis fans on social media after the Canadian endorsed equal pay for women in tennis in a recent article. Gender pay disparity is a problem that plagues most sports across the world, and tennis is no exception. The 23-year-old wrote about how he came to know about the problem via his girlfriend, Mirjam Björklund, a fellow tennis professional."I’m not sure everyone realizes how damaging this is for tennis. Tomorrow is International Women’s Day, and I want to talk about the gender gap. It’s so unfair. It doesn’t make sense at all," Shapovalov wrote in the Players' Tribune article. Denis Shapovalov also turned to social media to share a video of him talking about the issue, garnering appreciation from tennis fans all over the world.One Twitter user added a few more points to the discussion while also praising the Canadian's statements on the lower-level tournaments."Love this. Reminder that many joint events with the same draw size, even at the 1000 level pay women less. Denis highlights how much worse it is for lower-level events, down to accommodations."👽👻@fedettiniLove thisReminder that many joint events with the same draw size, even at the 1000 level pay women lessDenis highlights how much worse it is for lower-level events, down to accommodations twitter.com/denis_shapo/st…Denis Shapovalov@denis_shapoThis is a message to tennis… Something has to change.@PlayersTribune10113This is a message to tennis… Something has to change.@PlayersTribune https://t.co/D0rG4uNIpGLove thisReminder that many joint events with the same draw size, even at the 1000 level pay women lessDenis highlights how much worse it is for lower-level events, down to accommodations twitter.com/denis_shapo/st…Other fans expressed their happiness at seeing an ATP player other than Andy Murray raise their voice against this issue."It's so important to have male voices also contribute to the discussion of equal pay and how it benefits everyone, including men, when women's sports are uplifted. Glad someone other than just Andy Murray is speaking up & am so glad it's Shapi."NoFirstName claycourtdal@samstennnisIt's so important to have male voices also contribute to the discussion of equal pay and how it benefits everyone, including men, when women's sports are uplifted. Glad someone other than just Andy Murray is speaking up & am so glad it's Shapi 🏻 twitter.com/denis_shapo/st…Denis Shapovalov@denis_shapoThis is a message to tennis… Something has to change.@PlayersTribune12115This is a message to tennis… Something has to change.@PlayersTribune https://t.co/D0rG4uNIpGIt's so important to have male voices also contribute to the discussion of equal pay and how it benefits everyone, including men, when women's sports are uplifted. Glad someone other than just Andy Murray is speaking up & am so glad it's Shapi 👏🏻 twitter.com/denis_shapo/st…Here are some reactions from Twitter after Denis Shapovalov's comments about the gender pay gap in tennis:"I love him so much omg."marxist-keninist@tennisywilliamsI love him so much omg twitter.com/denis_shapo/st…Denis Shapovalov@denis_shapoThis is a message to tennis… Something has to change.@PlayersTribune11117This is a message to tennis… Something has to change.@PlayersTribune https://t.co/D0rG4uNIpGI love him so much omg twitter.com/denis_shapo/st…JI (Juan Ignacio)@juanignacio_acWaiting for TT experts with a PhD in sport economics to come after this, but the message is what matters and a start for something and a change 🏻🏻🏻 twitter.com/denis_shapo/st…Denis Shapovalov@denis_shapoThis is a message to tennis… Something has to change.@PlayersTribune655This is a message to tennis… Something has to change.@PlayersTribune https://t.co/D0rG4uNIpGWaiting for TT experts with a PhD in sport economics to come after this, but the message is what matters and a start for something and a change 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 twitter.com/denis_shapo/st…Krista@BwehRublevThank you so much Denis for this .Wow. twitter.com/denis_shapo/st…Denis Shapovalov@denis_shapoThis is a message to tennis… Something has to change.@PlayersTribune121This is a message to tennis… Something has to change.@PlayersTribune https://t.co/D0rG4uNIpGThank you so much Denis for this .Wow. 👏👏👏 twitter.com/denis_shapo/st…The Sports Connect@TheSportsConnct🏾🏾🏾Need more of this from the other dudes on tour. twitter.com/denis_shapo/st…Denis Shapovalov@denis_shapoThis is a message to tennis… Something has to change.@PlayersTribune1123This is a message to tennis… Something has to change.@PlayersTribune https://t.co/D0rG4uNIpG🙌🏾🙌🏾🙌🏾Need more of this from the other dudes on tour. twitter.com/denis_shapo/st…becks 𓆉@becksfizzzthere are no words for how pleased I am to see this said twitter.com/denis_shapo/st…Denis Shapovalov@denis_shapoThis is a message to tennis… Something has to change.@PlayersTribune6124This is a message to tennis… Something has to change.@PlayersTribune https://t.co/D0rG4uNIpGthere are no words for how pleased I am to see this said twitter.com/denis_shapo/st…Isa ✨@_ankaramessiit’s so important for the ones favored by their privilege to speak in defense of those without such favoritism and privilege. thank you, Denis!! twitter.com/denis_shapo/st…Denis Shapovalov@denis_shapoThis is a message to tennis… Something has to change.@PlayersTribune8124This is a message to tennis… Something has to change.@PlayersTribune https://t.co/D0rG4uNIpGit’s so important for the ones favored by their privilege to speak in defense of those without such favoritism and privilege. thank you, Denis!! twitter.com/denis_shapo/st…"Women’s tennis really will become less popular, it will be shown less on TV" - Denis Shapovalov on how unequal pay will affect women's tennis2023 Australian Open - Day 5Denis Shapovalov also discussed how the popularity of women's tennis is impacted by the disparity in tennis pay. He explained that fewer women will be able to compete if it isn't financially viable to do so. "Women’s tennis really will become less “popular.” It will be shown less on TV. That would have a domino effect. And the saddest part is that it goes all the way to the kids. I was inspired by Roger, but if women’s tennis gets less exposure, the little girl in front of the TV may not think it could be a reality for her. She’ll never see her idol and go, Look at her. I want to do that," Shapovalov wrote. He also wrote about how it's important to move the conversation beyond "reducing" the pay gap, towards eradicating it completely. Denis Shapovalov was last seen in action at the Mexican Open, where he lost to Taylor Fritz in the Round of 16.