Another fantastic WTA Tour season has unfolded for Aryna Sabalenka, with even more success still within reach.
Sabalenka has already secured four WTA Tour titles in 2025 and is currently holding the top spot in the world rankings.
Despite Gauff’s recent form and title defence, Sabalenka is believed to have a significant advantage over the rest of the field. Aileen Gu says that may be just how good she is.
Pegula had previously eliminated Sabalenka in the semifinals of the WTA 1000 tournament, which Sabalenka won back in 2024.
How Aryna Sabalenka describes her connection with Novak Djokovic
Aryna Sabalenka, the current world number one, spoke about her relationship with Djokovic in an interview, which was conducted following her exit from the WTA Finals after losing to Naomi Osaka.
The Belarusian has often been compared to the Serbian legend and has openly praised his influence on the sport of tennis. She said:
“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.”
What Aryna Sabalenka and Novak Djokovic discussed during Wimbledon and US Open
Sabalenka and Djokovic have had multiple interactions throughout the year, including their first joint training session at Wimbledon.
Djokovic spoke positively about Sabalenka after that practice, and the two have also spent time together off the court with their partners.
Reflecting on those discussions, Sabalenka 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.”
She added: “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.”
READ MORE: Coco Gauff heads into 2026 Grand Slam season still facing key concern raised by Rennae Stubbs
The relationship hasn’t been all business. During one light-hearted moment at Wimbledon, Djokovic playfully interrupted one of Sabalenka’s interviews.
Still, when it’s time to compete both players are able to lock in. Between them they hold 28 Grand Slam titles. Most of those belong to Djokovic, who has won a remarkable 24 majors during his career.
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