Fresh off one of the most upsetting defeats of her career at the French Open, Aryna Sabalenka is trying to turn the page on the grass courts of Wimbledon. However, when Novak Djokovic, who also had an unexpected exit, posted a photo of himself strolling the streets of Paris, Sabalenka, known for her own unfiltered social media presence, jumped into the comment section with friendly banter and career advice.
Aryna Sabalenka Teases Novak Djokovic Over Selfie Before Asking for Tennis Help to Get to Her ‘Djokovic Era’
Djokovic lost in the third round to rising star João Fonseca, but after the tournament, the 24-time major champion has remained in good spirits. He posted a bunch of photos on Instagram with the caption “Le Paris dump 🇫🇷” in which the first one was a selfie of him with a kissy-face expression. And Sabalenka commented: “First one is more like Saby style pic. Stop copying me🙄🤣”
Djokovic had the perfect response, “I’m in my Sabalenka era 😆😆,” to which Sabalenka wrote back, shifting from teasing to a playful request for help with her game. “@djokernole I need your help to get to my Djokovic era on court 😂”
While they both have high-intensity playing styles, off the court, the two share a sibling-like bond, balanced by a goofy, fun presence on social media.
Djokovic and Sabalenka regularly practice together, frequently trade jokes about their routines, and have even been spotted on double dates with their respective partners. Djokovic previously teased Sabalenka for “copying” his return stance, and Sabalenka has openly credited the 24-time Grand Slam champion for being a mentor.
Now at 39 and in the twilight of his career, Djokovic’s legacy speaks for itself. His 24 Grand Slam titles, 40 Masters 1000 crowns, and an Olympic gold medal are all built on his mindset and ability to lock in when it matters most. That is exactly what Sabalenka is looking to channel heading into the next Grand Slam.
During her quarterfinal clash in Paris against Diana Shnaider, Sabalenka appeared to be in complete control at first. After going up a set and a double break at 4-1, she eventually found herself just two points away from the semifinals while serving at 5-4. But amid strong winds and frustration, the Belarusian suffered an emotional collapse, dropping 10 consecutive games from 5-3 to lose the match 3-6, 7-5, 6-0.
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In the post-match press conference, she admitted to falling into a “deep, dark hole” and even felt like, “I just want to quit tennis right now.” Exhausted by mid-match anxiety, Sabalenka believes that she was losing matches simply because she became “over-emotional.”
The Wimbledon Championships will begin on Monday, June 29, and run until July 12 at the historic All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club in London.
