By Richard Pagliaro | Wednesday, October 15, 2025
Photo Credit: Wuhan Open/CVG
Sabalenka Credit Training with Grand Slam King Novak Djokovic To help her defend her open crown.
Storming through her 19th direct Tiebreaker victory, Sabalenka stopped Amanda Aminisova 6-3, 7-6 (3) to successfully defend her open championship in the US and capture her fourth Grand Slam crown last month.
World no. 1 Sabalenka scored a triple milestone by posting her 100th big victory in the match, becoming the first woman since legendary legend Serena Williams (2012-2014) to successfully protect US Open and collect a $ 5 million Grand Slam Record control.
After major heart losses for Americans Madison Keys in the final of Australian Open, Coco Gauff in the final of Roland Garros and Traicova in Wimbledon’s semifinal, Sabalenka spent time chatting and training with Novak Gjokovic.
In a broad interview with AFP at Prudential NextGen Aces event in Hong Hong This week, Sabalenka credited Djokovic’s advice by helping her defend Flushing Meadows. Sabalenka said high -intensity training with Gjokovic prepared him for confronting senior US Open claimants.
“(Novak is) a great guy and he is very open. You can look for anything and he can give you advice,” Sabalenka told Gjokovic.
“And he is such an open guy and I love him to practice with him because for me he is such a high intensity training. I just help me physically and even mentally get better. And then when playing against girls, I’m not physically tired because I practice with Novak.”
Animova overthrew Sabalenka in Wimbledon and Belarusing the highest ranking said a discussion with Gjokovic in SW19 on how to prepare mentally for big matches helped him in Flushing Meadows.
“In Wimbledon I spoke to Novak. I just wanted to know how he was preparing for those big matches: what was the focus and what was his mindset going to the match,” Sabalenka AFP told.
“So we talked for an hour maybe, but with Novak you can always spend more than she is talking and looking for advice.”
Sabalenka I surprised some by hiring ex -domestic number 1 Max Mirnyi, nickname Belarian For his net game, to join her training staff working with primary coach Anton Dubrov.
However, it turned out to be a smart rent of Sabalenka.
Working with Dubrov and Mirnyi, Sabalenka has sharpened her game in transition and net game. She says applying her transition skills and imposing her net game is a main goal that goes ahead.
“I would like to approach the net a lot more. And I have to spend time working on it and understanding the game in the net in the singles,” Sabalenka said.
“So so many things I can get better in – citizens, kicks, as a word everything.”
