Aryna Sabalenka is heading into the North American hardcourt swing armed with fresh wisdom from one of tennis history's greatest minds. The reigning US Open champion has revealed she sought out Novak Djokovic for both tactical and psychological guidance, and the Serbian legend has apparently been teasing her about it ever since.
On the tactical side, Sabalenka asked Djokovic directly about his legendary return game. He shared details about a specific stance he uses while waiting to receive serve, and Sabalenka wasted no time putting it into practice. She described the adjustment as making it noticeably easier to react quickly. Djokovic's core advice centered on focusing inward, committing to a sharp split-step, and reading the opponent's body language for clues about serve direction. Sabalenka admitted her version is not an exact replica of his technique, but close enough that Djokovic now jokes she is copying him.
Beyond the technical tips, Sabalenka also turned to Djokovic for advice on the emotional demands of major finals. He pointed her toward meditation as a cornerstone of his mental preparation, whether through quiet walks in nature or brief moments of stillness during a match. He also acknowledged that shouting on court serves as an emotional release, something Sabalenka said she completely relates to.
The two have built a genuine friendship, famously partnering in a charity doubles exhibition at the 2024 Australian Open alongside Stefanos Tsitsipas and Maria Sakkari.
Sabalenka arrives at Flushing Meadows with a stellar 36 wins and only 6 losses in 2026, plus three singles titles including the Sunshine Double. Her last loss at the US Open came to Coco Gauff in the 2023 final, making her the player to beat this fortnight. TennisDraw users picking their bracket favorites will find Sabalenka an extremely difficult player to leave off the shortlist.
