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Aryna Sabalenka shares what her relationship with Novak Djokovic is really like on and off the court

Photo by Graham Denholm/Getty Images
Photo by Graham Denholm/Getty Images
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Aryna Sabalenka has enjoyed another fantastic season on the WTA Tour, with further success still possible.

Sabalenka has won four WTA Tour titles in 2025 so far, and occupies the number one spot in the world rankings.

Sabalenka has been told she has an advantage over the rest of the WTA Tour, although it is Coco Gauff who enters the Finals as the defending champion.

The American star is also the player in form this time around, having just won the Wuhan Open final against Jessica Pegula.

Pegula knocked Sabalenka out in the semifinals of the WTA 1000 tournament, which the Belarusian won in 2024.

Aryna Sabalenka reacts against Jessica Pegula of the United States in the Women's Singles Semifinal match during day eight of the 2025 Wuhan Open at Optics Valley International Tennis Center.
Photo by Wang He/Getty Images

Aryna Sabalenka shares what her relationship with Novak Djokovic is like

The world number one remains in high spirits despite the exit, having just carried out an in-depth interview with AFP in Hong Kong.

Within the interview was a discussion on ATP Tour legend Novak Djokovic, of whom Sabalenka said: “He’s a great guy and he’s very open.

READ MORE: ‘Classy’ Novak Djokovic praised for what he said right after losing to Valentin Vacherot at the Shanghai Masters

“You can ask anything and he can give you advice. And he’s such an open guy and I love practising with him because for me it’s such high-intensity training.

“It just helps me physically and even mentally to get better. And then when I play against girls, I’m not getting tired physically because I practise with Novak.”

Aryna Sabalenka reveals Wimbledon and US Open talks with Novak Djokovic

Sabalenka and Djokovic have spent plenty of time together this season, including a first-ever practice at Wimbledon.

Djokovic praised Sabalenka after the practice session, while they have also socialised with their partners this year.

Sharing insight into significant meetings with the Serbian in recent times, the Belarusian said: “At Wimbledon I spoke to Novak.

“I just wanted to know how he was preparing himself for those big matches, what was the focus and what was his mindset going into the match.

“So we talked for an hour probably, but with Novak you always can spend more than that talking and asking for advice.

“And then later on, going to the US Open final, I remembered what he said, what he told me, and I think it helped me to get the title.”

It certainly hasn’t all been serious between the pair, with Djokovic crashing a Sabalenka interview at the All England Club.

Both, however, have been able to switch on when it really matters, with the duo boasting 28 Grand Slam titles between them.

The ATP ace does, of course, claim the majority of those titles, having clinched a stunning 24 Grand Slam trophies throughout his phenomenal career.