(Video) Aryna Sabalenka Puts Novak Djokovic in Danger by Making Him Her Serving Target at US Open

Aryna Sabalenka and Novak Djokovic are chasing their first Grand Slam title of the season at the US Open.

(Video) Aryna Sabalenka Puts Novak Djokovic in Danger by Making Him Her Serving Target at US Open

Aryna Sabalenka played a game with Novak Djokovic at the US Open (Image via X/Aryna Sabalenka Archive, Novak Djokovic, US Open Tennis Championships YouTube Channel)

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A viral clip sums up exactly what happens when Aryna Sabalenka and Novak Djokovic practice on the same court. Both Djokovic and Sabalenka have reached the third round of the US Open and are expected to face some challenges because they will be meeting Cameron Norrie and 2021 US Open runner-up Leylah Fernandez, respectively.

On their rest day, when they were on the practice courts, they played a game. Sabalenka made the former ATP World No.1 her serving target. Djokovic stood on one side of the court with his back turned, eyes closed, and prayed to God.

The WTA World No.1, who also tied the score 1-1 in a fun challenge with Djokovic by hitting an empty can during Wimbledon, successfully hit the ball between the Serb’s legs during their latest practice session.

Watch the video here:

The 24-time Grand Slam champion survived a scare in the second round as America’s Zachary Svajda took the first set off him. It was at the 2023 US Open that Djokovic last won a Major, by beating Daniil Medvedev. Since that win, the 38-year-old has played just one Major final (2024 Wimbledon, which he lost to Carlos Alcaraz).

Against his third-round opponent, Norrie, the seventh seed holds a 6-0 head-to-head lead and also beat him twice this season. The Brit, in the previous round, overcame Francisco Comesana in four sets. Djokovic played the semifinals of the first three Majors, losing at the French Open and Wimbledon to Jannik Sinner.

This season, he has so far reached two finals and claimed the Geneva Open. The last Big Title he won was the 2024 Paris Olympics by beating Alcaraz.

Aryna Sabalenka on her match against Leylah Fernandez

It was in the semifinals of the 2021 US Open that Aryna Sabalenka faced Leylah Fernandez for the first time in singles. That match ended in disappointment for the Belarusian ace as she lost it in three sets.

Aryna Sabalenka
Aryna Sabalenka (Image via X/The Tennis Letter)

When Sabalenka was asked to recall that match at the press conference after her second-round win, she said she at present is in a better situation in terms of her game improvement and form as compared to the 2021 season.

I think I better don’t remember anything from that match because I think I changed a lot. I had really tough challenges after that, and I went through, I found myself, I became a better player and a person. So I think it’s going to be a completely different match. So I just don’t try to remember much. But of course, I do remember a couple of things, and I love Fernandez, so I’m actually super excited facing her again.

Sabalenka is aiming to defend her title (beat home favorite Jessica Pegula last year). Although she has played two Grand Slam finals already, a Major title has still eluded her since the 2023 US Open. In Melbourne and Paris, Sabalenka lost to Madison Keys and Coco Gauff, respectively. Since that defeat, Sabalenka hasn’t yet progressed to a final, including at the Cincinnati Masters, which she was playing as the defending champion.

Before scheduling the match against the three-time Grand Slam singles champion, the 22-year-old Canadian came from a set down to beat Elsa Jacquemot. Fernandez is also playing doubles with none other than 14-time Grand Slam doubles champion Venus Williams.

The pair, after knocking out sixth seeds Lyudmyla Kichenok and Ellen Perez, have scheduled a second-round clash with Eri Hozumi and Ulrikke Eikeri. Fernandez has reached just one Grand Slam doubles final so far- at the 2023 French Open, she played alongside Taylor Townsend, losing that match to the team of Hsieh Su-wei and Wang Xinyu.

Also read: Aryna Sabalenka Thanks Carlos Alcaraz for Finishing His US Open Match Quickly After Avoiding Late Start