Aryna Sabalenka Reveals the Shot She Copied from Novak Djokovic: 'He Always Teases Me'

Aryna Sabalenka is into the quarterfinal of Wimbledon for the third time in her career. On Sunday (July 6), the Belarusian went past her former doubles partner Elise Mertens with a 6-4, 7-6(4) scoreline to improve her head-to-head record against her to 11-2.

Sabalenka later was asked in the press conference about the shots she has learned from Novak Djokovic, with whom she frequently interacts and discusses things related to tennis. The Belarusian revealed she has copied the Serb’s return style.

One of the conversations was about how to manage energy. Another is about the mental aspect of the game. Then we had another conversation about how to mentally face the big finals. So yes, I think we mainly talk about the mental aspect of the game. I mean, he also once helped me a lot with the return. Now he always teases me by mimicking his return. And I tell him, ‘Dude, it’s working’. I’m imitating the best.

Sabalenka will be facing an unseeded Laura Siegemund in the last eight. The three-time Grand Slam singles champion has met the German ace twice, winning both the matches they played in 2019. They have never met on grass.

Siegemund progressed to the Wimbledon quarterfinal for the first time. Sabalenka, on the other hand, was a semifinalist here twice (2021 and 2023). Last year, however, she skipped the tournament because of an injury.

Sabalenka has never lifted a title on grass. But twice she played finals on the surface: in the 2017 Eastbourne International and the 2022 Rosmalen Grass Court Championships.

The World No.1 is also aiming to win her eighth final of the season and win her fourth title after emerging victorious in Brisbane, Miami, and Madrid. Before Wimbledon, she played the finals of both the Australian Open and the French Open, losing both to Madison Keys and Coco Gauff, respectively.

Billie Jean King hopes to see Novak Djokovic win his 25th Grand Slam title

Before this year, Novak Djokovic played the final of every Wimbledon since 2018, losing only in the last two seasons, both to Carlos Alcaraz, who himself is aiming to complete the Channel Slam for two consecutive seasons. Djokovic last lifted a Major at the 2023 US Open, but since then, only once he was successful in reaching a Grand Slam final (last year’s Wimbledon).