Novak Djokovic gives Aryna Sabalenka a pep talk - and himself one for Wimbledon glory

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Djokovic gives Sabalenka a pep talk — and himself one for Wimbledon glory

Seven-time champion Djokovic previews campaign at All England Club

Hannah Peters/Dan Istitene/Getty Images Novak Djokovic and Aryna Sabalenka address the media ahead of their respective Wimbledon campaigns. By Jerome Coombe

When it comes to tennis wisdom, there are few more qualified to share it than Novak Djokovic. Just ask Aryna Sabalenka.

The two stars hit the practice courts together this week at the All England Club, where both are chasing their own slice of Wimbledon history. For Sabalenka, the current WTA World No. 1, the opportunity to train alongside Djokovic wasn’t just about hitting balls. It was a rare chance to tap into the mind of a legend.

“Novak is the best,” Sabalenka said during her pre-tournament press conference. “First of all, I was able to hit with him, which not every guy would be able to do. Then you can chat with him. He will give his honest advice. It's amazing to hear the opinion of such a legend.”

Djokovic, the 100-time tour-level champion who competed in the iconic ‘Big Three’ era, is no stranger to overcoming adversity — something Sabalenka is hoping to master herself. The 27-year-old fell short in the Australian Open and Roland Garros finals this year, but she will hope Djokovic’s insights can give her an edge in her pursuit of a first title at SW19.

“If you give Novak an opportunity to talk, he's not going to stop,” Sabalenka joked. “I wish I could stay there for four hours and just keep chatting. We were just chatting about stuff that I'm kind of struggling with a little bit. I'm really thankful for the advice he gave me.”

Right on cue, Djokovic then made a surprise cameo during Sabalenka’s press conference, playfully crashing the session before his own media duties began. Taking a seat beside her, the 24-time major winner couldn't resist teasing Sabalenka with a dose of his trademark dry humour.

“I think you have the potential,” Djokovic joked to Sabalenka. “You're a really talented player. You have nice strokes, good technique. Can I be honest? You're lacking intensity on the court. You don't have enough intensity. It's too flat. You've got to lighten up a little bit, put some power in it.”

Of course, Sabalenka’s raw power and ferocity are among the defining features of her game, much like Djokovic’s own relentless intensity. The banter between the two highlighted their mutual respect, even as they chase different milestones this fortnight.

For Djokovic, the goal is monumental: An eighth Wimbledon title would see him equal Roger Federer’s all-time record at the grass-court major. But while doubts are raised over the 38-year-old’s continued prowess, he addressed his campaign head on.

“Whether it could be my last dance, I'm not sure, as I'm not sure about Roland Garros or any other Slam that I play next,” said Djokovic when asked if this could be his final appearance at Wimbledon. “My wish is to play for several more years. I would love to be healthy physically and also mentally motivated to keep on playing at the highest level. That's the goal, but you never know at this stage.

“Wimbledon could be the best chance because of the results I had, because of how I feel, how I play in Wimbledon, just getting that extra push mentally and motivation to perform the best tennis at the highest level.”

Djokovic’s path to history won’t be easy. A new generation has firmly established itself at the top of the game, led by World No. 1 Jannik Sinner and World No. 2 Carlos Alcaraz. Sinner holds a narrow 5-4 Lexus ATP Head2Head lead over Djokovic, having defeated him earlier this month in the semi-finals at Roland Garros.

Meanwhile, Alcaraz has conquered Djokovic in back-to-back Wimbledon finals. Yet, true to form, Djokovic remains undeterred by the rising competition.

“In a sense, you're always hunting because you're always going for the titles — in my also privileged position — the records and more history,” said Djokovic, the former No. 1 in the PIF ATP Rankings. “I do feel that I'm always in that position of going for something with the attitude of trying to win rather than trying to defend.

“Even though I have been many times in my career in that position whether it's the defending champion or being No. 1 in the world, you feel slightly different because I feel everyone wants your position.”

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