"If he wins, it's thanks to me”: Aryna Sabalenka takes credit for Djokovic's Shanghai success

Aryna Sabalenka is taking some credit for Novak Djokovic's great run at the Shanghai Masters, after sharing several training sessions with the 24-time Grand Slam champion. The Belarusian World No. 1 and the legendary Serb are both signing off on notable campaigns in China, with both already in the semifinals.

Sabalenka has once again been the great star in Wuhan, having claimed the title in the previous three editions and achieving a 20-0 record at the tournament. In the quarterfinals this Friday, she defeated Elena Rybakina in straight sets and is set to face Jessica Pegula in the semifinals.

The 4-time Grand Slam champion is playing her first tournament after winning the US Open title a month ago. Sabalenka chose to skip the China Open and previous tournaments in Asia, taking some time off to disconnect. She used the time to travel to Greece with her boyfriend for a vacation, where she spent time with her male colleague, Novak Djokovic.

Sabalenka spoke in a press conference from Wuhan, where she was asked about her friend Djokovic's great campaign in Shanghai. The 24-time Grand Slam champion defeated Zizou Bergs and reached the semifinals, where he will face the surprise player Valentin Vacherot. The Serb emerges as the favorite after the mass exit of several top names in the early rounds of the tournament, in addition to the absence of Carlos Alcaraz and the recent injury to Jannik Sinner.

Like Sabalenka, Djokovic is only playing his first tournament after the US Open, amidst a period of off-court preparation. The Serb recently changed his residence from Serbia to Greece amid a controversy with his home government, and various photos on social media have shown Nole's steps in his new residence, where he took the time to meet up with Sabalenka for a double date.

"I like spending time with Novak. He is always willing to give good advice," commented Aryna Sabalenka from Wuhan. "We trained several times, and he was great on the court. He knows how to joke, and when we trained, he celebrated almost every point against me in his own way."

"I hope I was a good training partner. After all, when I see his matches and results in Shanghai, I can say with total certainty that I am. If he wins the title, it will be thanks to me," added the current WTA World No. 1.

Sabalenka and Djokovic have been showing their great relationship off the court for some time, with several photos and videos together, both at tournaments and away from the courts. Sabalenka, along with her boyfriend Georgios Frangulis, has been seen on several occasions dining with Novak and his wife Jelena, showing their great relationship.

During last year's Wimbledon, there were videos of Nole and Sabalenka training together, while the Serb told Serbian media that his daughter Tara is a fan of the Belarusian. "Sabalenka is her favorite. She only cares about Sabalenka," Nole said in a press conference. "She keeps asking if she can go to her house because she has a refrigerator full of açaí. The other day we went and she made us açaí. Since then, it's all Tara can think about. She's not very interested in tennis itself... it all revolves around if she can get more of that açaí."

Precisely Sabalenka's boyfriend, the Brazilian businessman Frangulis, is the founder of the Oakberry brand and an entrepreneur who has globally popularized the Brazilian açaí fruit. Frangulis actually recently partnered with Djokovic to buy the French second-tier football team Le Mans—along with Felipe Massa and Kevin Magnussen.