Aryna Sabalenka has trained with multiple ATP players including Novak Djokovic and Jannik Sinner over the past year.
Sabalenka practiced with Sinner, Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz at Wimbledon last year, before she would go on to reach the semifinals.
As well as practicing with the 24-time Grand Slam champion, Sabalenka has also received advice from Djokovic in recent years.
In a newly released interview, Sabalenka has revealed exactly what she has gained from practicing with top ATP players.
Aryna Sabalenka claims practicing with Novak Djokovic helped her get stronger
Many WTA players have male hitting partners, which is the same for Sabalenka, who has Andrei Vasilevski as her travelling hitting partner.
When asked about her experiences of hitting with Sinner and Djokovic, Sabalenka told Esquire about the difference in intensity and explained how it has helped her become physically stronger.
Sabalenka also revealed that she actually once practiced with Djokovic for up to three hours.
“That was fun and I love doing this, because the intensity is different,” said Sabalenka. “You know, you play against them and you automatically start copying their moves, which is great, they do a lot of great things that I have to learn from them.
“The intensity of the practice was really high, like physically in that moment, even though I would hit for a little bit. With Novak, we actually did two full practices, like two hours and three hours another one, so it was a great experience and good for me, you know I got really strong physically.”
Sabalenka has actually been recorded to hit harder than ATP players, including Sinner, Djokovic and Alcaraz.
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Aryna Sabalenka names the only two players she has been to dinner with
Following these comments about Djokovic and Sinner, Sabalenka was asked about her friendships within tennis and whether she goes out for dinner with other players.
Sabalenka explained that she has a good relationship with everyone on the tour, but revealed that she has only been out for dinner with two players.
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One of those was a double date with Djokovic and his wife, Jelena, and the other being Sabalenka’s best friend Paula Badosa.
“I’m really good with everyone, but going for dinner and having a drink I think it’s only with Paula Badosa,” said Sabalenka. “And actually we went for a double date with Novak, so that’s the only two that I actually went for dinner.”
Sabalenka decided to withdraw from her scheduled tournament in Stuttgart, but it will not be long until she returns to the match court again at the Madrid Open.
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