By GoalLine365 Sports Desk
Aryna Sabalenka doesn’t sugarcoat her struggles not now, not ever. The world No. 1 admits she still needs to “improve in literally everything,” even as she sits atop women’s tennis. And behind that drive? A surprising mentor figure none other than Novak Djokovic.
Speaking in Hong Kong ahead of her exhibition appearance with Andre Agassi, Sabalenka was her usual raw, passionate self part powerhouse athlete, part open diary. The Belarusian superstar revealed how Djokovic has been quietly offering her guidance, helping her sharpen both her game and her mindset.
Learning From the Best
“I’ve been talking a lot with Novak,” Sabalenka said, her tone half in awe, half determination. “He’s helping me not just with tennis but with everything around it how to handle pressure, how to manage emotions. There’s always something to improve.”
It’s a connection that makes sense. Djokovic, a master of mental resilience, seems to have become an unofficial guru for athletes who thrive under intensity and few embody that better than Sabalenka.
At 27, the four-time Grand Slam champion has turned raw power into refined precision. Yet, she refuses to settle. “I want to be better in every single part of my game literally everything,” she emphasized.
From Rock Bottom to Reinvention
But her path wasn’t always upward. Sabalenka recalled that low point in 2022 a painful chapter when her serve collapsed, and her self-belief nearly followed.
“I couldn’t put one serve in. I was double-faulting 40 times. I thought maybe that’s a sign I should quit,” she confessed. “We tried everything nothing worked.”
It’s the kind of breakdown most players never recover from. But Sabalenka, true to form, found a way to turn pain into fuel.
“When you get close to that moment where you want to give up,” she said, pausing slightly, “that’s when you can actually turn things around. You just have to push. Keep trying. That’s the turning point.”
Beyond the Baseline
Now the undisputed No. 1, Sabalenka has also been candid about life off the court learning to ignore social media hate and focusing on her mental well-being. Her authenticity, even in moments of vulnerability, is what continues to make her one of tennis’s most compelling figures.
She may be at the top of the mountain, but Aryna Sabalenka is still climbing. And with Novak Djokovic offering quiet wisdom from the sidelines, the next chapter of her evolution looks even more fascinating.
Because if there’s one thing she’s proven, it’s this quitting was never an option.
