Aryna Sabalenka recently enjoyed a relaxing getaway in Greece after clinching her second consecutive US Open title. During her stay, she had the opportunity to dine and practice with fellow tennis star Novak Djokovic, who holds 24 Grand Slam titles. Accompanied by their partners, Georgios Frangulis and Jelena Djokovic, the four shared a memorable evening in Athens.
Competitive Spirit
Sabalenka shared her experience, highlighting Djokovic’s competitive nature. “He was really competitive, and he was screaming,” she stated. Despite this, Sabalenka managed to win several points against him, a point she eagerly noted. “But yeah, we had a fun time in Greece. I love them, him and Jelena,” she added, appreciating Djokovic’s willingness to offer advice.
Recent Achievements
Both players continued their strong performances after the trip. Djokovic has been having success in Shanghai, while Sabalenka also shined at the Dongfeng Voyah · Wuhan Open. In her first match since the US Open, she defeated Rebecca Sramkova with scores of 4-6, 6-3, 6-1. This victory improved her record to 18-0 in Wuhan, where she has been a three-time champion since 2018, with the tournament paused between 2020 and 2023.
Preparation in Wuhan
Sabalenka arrived early to Wuhan, an advantage stemming from her withdrawal from the previous week’s China Open in Beijing. She took advantage of the early arrival to acclimate to Wuhan’s extreme humidity. “Honestly, I thought this year that the US Open was quite humid, but when I came here, I realized the US Open was not humid at all,” she commented on the challenging conditions she faced.
Upcoming Challenges
Looking ahead, Sabalenka is set to compete against 16th seed Liudmila Samsonova in the Round of 16. With her successful preparations and recent performances, she remains optimistic about her chances moving forward.
