"Biggest credit goes to me!": Novak Djokovic praises Aryna Sabalenka and jokes he’s the secret behind her success
Tennis News
Wimbledon may be about tennis, but Novak Djokovic is serving up mentorship and laughs off the court as well.
Speaking in a post match interview after his first round 6-1, 6-7(9), 6-2, 6-2, win against Alexandre Müller, the 24 time Grand Slam champion opened up about his recent training session with Aryna Sabalenka, the current women's World No. 1, and the mutual respect they have developed behind the scenes.
Djokovic was asked about how he hit with the Belarusian star before the tournament. The reporter asked: "I wanted to ask about your hit with Aryna before the tournament. I saw you gave her a lot of encouragement. I’ve seen you do that with other players. How much satisfaction does it give you to share your wisdom? It must be quite nice to share those moments with a female player as well.".
His reply was classic Novak: equal parts humor, humility, and genuine admiration by saying, "Of course. It was the first time I got to hit with Aryna. The way I see it, all the success she has from this moment onwards, biggest credit comes to me,".
After a slight chuckle he continued and said, "Jokes aside, we have a really good relationship. I know she has a great team of people around her. A great support system. It’s not a surprise she’s been doing so well. I love the personality. I love how she balances off court interests and character really comes out.".
The Serbian then discussed how her ferocity leads to her championship-winning mentality along with some advice he gave as he stated: "Also on court, being so fierce as a competitor.. she deserves to be where she is. #1 one in the world. She’s been so consistent.".
"We had a little chat after the training sessions. She asked me a couple of questions. I’m very happy to always share with anybody, as I was doing with a lot of the other male tennis players, mostly. Obviously, what we talk about stays between us.
I hope it can serve them as a great… even if it’s just an encouragement.. even if it’s something they’ve heard before.. but hearing it from me, maybe it sounds different, it impacts them differently. I’m honoured to be in a position where the #1 in the world comes to me, approaches me, and asks me questions and for guidance. That’s a very privileged to be in. I always try to be available.".
Novak Djokovic says Aryna Sabalenka deserves to be #1 in the world & he’s honored she came to him for advice
— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) July 2, 2025
“I wanted to ask about your hit with Aryna before the tournament. I saw you gave her a lot of encouragement. I’ve seen you do that with other players. How much… pic.twitter.com/lVjMPaACx6
Looking forward to both of their paths at Wimbledon, both seem to have steady yet slippery paths towards winning the coveted third Grand Slam of the year.
At the second round of Wimbledon, Novak will face number 154 in the world, Dan Evans, who won against fellow British wildcard compatriot Jay Clarke 6-1, 7-5, 6-2.
Taking a glimpse at their head to head, it seems Evans actually has the advantage, with the Briton having the only victory with a 3 set win in 2021 against Djokovic in the Round of 16 of the Monte-Carlo Masters.
Match Info:
Daniel Evans - Novak Djokovic
Start time (local): Thu, 3 Jul, 1:30 PM
Start time (your time): Thu, 3 Jul, 8:30 PM
Court: Centre Court
Tournament: The Championships, Wimbledon
Round: Round of 64
Head-to-Head
| Evans | Djokovic | |
|---|---|---|
| H2H Record | ||
| Total Wins | 1 | 0 |
| Win Streak | 1 | 0 |
| Ranking | ||
| Official Ranking | 154 | 6 |
| Race Ranking | 171 | 6 |
| Live Ranking | ||
| Live Ranking | 143 (+11) | 6 |
| Live Race Ranking | 143 (+25) | 5 (+1) |
| Bios | ||
| Age | 35 (23 May 1990) | 38 (22 May 1987) |
| Birthplace | Birmingham, England | Belgrade, Serbia, Yugoslavia |
| Residence | Dubai, United Arab Emirates | Belgrade, Serbia,Monte Carlo, Monaco,Athens, Greece |
| Height | 5'8" (175cm) | 6'2" (188cm) |
| Weight | 165lbs (75kg) | 170lbs (77kg) |
| Plays | Right-handed (one-handed backhand) | Right-handed (two-handed backhand) |
| Turned Pro | 2006 | 2003 |
| Coach | Sebastián Prieto (2021-2024) | Andy Murray |
| YTD W/L | 15-17 (47%) | 21-7 (75%) |
| YTD Titles | - | 1 |
| Career Titles | 2 | 100 (3rd in the Open Era) |
| Prize Money | US $ 8,854,820 | US $187,870,986 - 1st all-time in earnings |
| Past Meetings | ||
|
D Evans d N Djokovic ATP Monte Carlo - Round of 166-4 | 7-5 15 Apr 2021 |
||
Meanwhile, Aryna Sabalenka is set to play today with a tough bout against Czech star Marie Bouzkova, which is the first match on Centre Court for this Wednesday.
As the grass court battles continue to unfold at SW19, it’s clear that Wimbledon is about more than just forehands and drop shots; it is also a stage where champions inspire champions.
Novak Djokovic’s mix of lighthearted bravado and sincere mentorship underscores the deep camaraderie and mutual admiration that exists among the sport’s elite.
Whether he’s lifting another Grand Slam trophy or sharing wisdom with fellow world No.1s like Aryna Sabalenka, Djokovic’s presence continues to shape tennis both on and off the court. As both stars pursue their Wimbledon dreams, one thing is certain: their shared moment of respect is already a win for the game.
Sean Killen is a contributing journalist for both DartsNews.com and Tennisuptodate.com, where he balances his university studies with writing news updates, player features, and match reports across both sports.
Before joining the sites, Sean built experience across student and professional media. He serves as TV News Director for Cardiff University TV (CUTV), has reported for Gair Rhydd and The Cardiff Times, and produced viral news coverage that gained international attention. His reporting spans sports, breaking news, and human-interest features, and he’s worked across platforms including print, online, radio, and video.
Sean has followed the ATP and WTA tennis tours closely for years, with a growing interest in darts through the Premier League and World Championship circuits. He brings a sharp eye for storytelling, a commitment to accuracy, and a passion for making niche sports accessible to wider audiences.
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