By Richard Pagliaro | Wednesday, October 15, 2025Photo credit score: Wuhan Open/CVG
Aryna Sabalenka credit coaching with Grand Slam king Novak Djokovic for serving to her defend her US Open crown.
Storming by means of her nineteenth straight tiebreaker win, Sabalenka stopped Amanda Aminisova 6-3, 7-6(3) to efficiently defend her US Open championship and seize her fourth Grand Slam crown final month.
World No. 1 Sabalenka scored a triple milestone posting her one centesimal main match win, changing into the primary girl for the reason that legendary Serena Williams (2012-2014) to efficiently defend the US Open and gathering a Grand Slam file $5 Million champion’s test.
After heartbreaking main losses to People Madison Keys within the Australian Open closing, Coco Gauff within the Roland Garros closing and Anisimova within the Wimbledon semifinals, Sabalenka hung out speaking and coaching with Novak Djokovic.
In a wide-ranging interview with AFP on the Prudential NextGen Aces occasion in Hong Hong this week, Sabalenka credited Djokovic’s recommendation with serving to her defend Flushing Meadows. Sabalenka mentioned high-intensity coaching with Djokovic ready her for dealing with high contenders on the US Open.
“[Novak is] an amazing man and he’s very open. You’ll be able to ask something and he may give you recommendation,” Sabalenka mentioned of Djokovic.
“And he’s such an open man and I really like working towards with him as a result of for me it’s such high-intensity coaching. It simply helps me bodily and even mentally to get higher. After which once I play towards ladies, I’m not getting drained bodily as a result of I apply with Novak.”
Anisimova toppled Sabalenka at Wimbledon and the top-ranked Belarusian mentioned a dialogue with Djokovic at SW19 on learn how to mentally put together for main matches helped her in Flushing Meadows.
“At Wimbledon I spoke to Novak. I simply needed to understand how he was making ready himself for these large matches: what was the main focus and what was his mindset going into the match,” Sabalenka advised AFP.
“So we talked for an hour most likely, however with Novak you at all times can spend greater than that speaking and asking for recommendation.”
Sabalenka shocked some by hiring former doubles No. 1 Max Mirnyi, nicknamed the Beast of Belarus for his swarming internet play, to affix her teaching workers working with main coach Anton Dubrov.
But, it turned out to be a shrewd Sabalenka rent.
Working with Dubrov and Mirnyi, Sabalenka has sharpened her transition recreation and internet play. She says making use of her transition abilities and imposing her internet play is a main purpose going ahead.
“I might like to method the web far more. And I must spend time engaged on that and understanding the sport on the web in singles,” Sabalenka mentioned.
“So, so many issues I can get higher at—pictures, strokes, like actually all the things.”
