Aryna Sabalenka Reveals Novak Djokovic’s Advice on Controlling Her Emotions in Big Finals

Novak Djokovic and Aryna Sabalenka were last seen in action at Wimbledon, where both failed to reach the final. Sabalenka’s run ended at the hands of fellow four-time Grand Slam singles champion Naomi Osaka in the fourth round.

The seven-time Wimbledon champion made another semifinal, but for the second consecutive time, his campaign was ended by eventual champion Jannik Sinner in straight sets. Both will next be seen in action in the North American hardcourt swing.

Djokovic’s participation in the warm-up events in the lead-up to the US Open is uncertain. But Sabalenka is scheduled to next play at the Canadian Open, the main draw of which starts on August 1st. Sabalenka recently sat for an interview with First&Red, during which she revealed a piece of advice Djokovic gave her on controlling her emotions.

I actually asked him for advice more on the emotional side about how you get into the right mindset for big finals. And he said, ‘Well, for me, it’s really important…to have some form of meditation.’ Going for a walk in nature is a kind of meditation, or just taking a moment during the match. Obviously, he shouts too; it helps him let out his emotions, and I’m the same way. Sometimes I need to shout to get it all out. It lets me refocus.

Djokovic, who last won a tour-level title at the Hellenic Championship last year, has played just five tournaments this season. The only events apart from the first three Majors that he has so far played are the Indian Wells Masters (lost in the fourth round) and the Italian Open (suffered an opening-round exit).

At the US Open last year, Nole lost in the semifinals to eventual champion Alcaraz. Sabalenka defended her title by defeating home favorite Amanda Anisimova.

Aryna Sabalenka reveals how she convinced Carlos Alcaraz of filming a TikTok video

Last year, Carlos Alcaraz won the US Open title for the second time in his career with a four-set win over Jannik Sinner. Later, he filmed a TikTok video with Aryna Sabalenka, who, in that aforementioned interview with First&Red, revealed how she convinced an exhausted Alcaraz to film the video.

At the US Open, Carlos had eyes like… because I had a day off, but he had just won and celebrated with his team, slept maybe three or four hours. He came in completely exhausted, and I said, ‘Carlos, we need to make a TikTok. It was very funny, Carlos looked so clumsy and sweet. My birthday is on the same day as his, so I used that to convince him.

Alcaraz has been on the sidelines since the Barcelona Open. He injured his right wrist, which forced him to withdraw from the remainder of the clay-court events, including the French Open. The seven-time Grand Slam champion also missed Wimbledon.

Sabalenka has so far won just three titles this season (Brisbane International, Indian Wells, and the Miami Open). Since Miami, she hasn’t yet progressed to a final. She could lose her No.1 ranking if she fails to defend her title in the New York Slam.

Alcaraz is scheduled to play the Cincinnati Masters, where he received a walkover from Sinner in the final last year. The Spaniard has so far made three finals this year, winning the Australian Open and the Qatar Open and losing the Monte-Carlo Masters.

Sinner beat him in Monte Carlo, and as Alcaraz failed to defend his title, he lost his No.1 ranking to the Italian ace. Alcaraz dropped to the third position after reigning French Open champion Alexander Zverev reached the final of Wimbledon.

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