Aryna Sabalenka parts ways with long-time coach ahead of WTA Finals: "He is not here at Indian Wells"
WTA
Aryna Sabalenka is without a long-standing member of her coaching team at Indian Wells in the form of Max Mirnyi, with it being reported that she had parted ways with him just before the WTA Finals.
Mirnyi is a 10-time Grand Slam champion across doubles and mixed doubles and was hired with Sabalenka's net game in mind.
Ben Rothenberg reported the news which was asked about on Monday after she saw off Karolina Muchova in a hard-fought win, and she commented on the absence from her team and said he wasn't there but that he is always supporting them in the background.
Miryni joined Sabalenka's coaching team in August 2025 and aided her in winning multiple huge tournaments, including the 2025 US Open, 2026 Indian Wells and 2026 Miami Open. She also reached the finals of the 2025 WTA Finals, 2026 Australian Open and the 2026 US Open. So firmly a partnership that worked.
But despite the fact that he has left, it is not a new team that will be appointed, with Sabalenka's team still consisting of Anton Dubrov and Jason Stacy.
“He is not here at Indian Wells with us, but Max has always been a great supporter,” Sabalenka said as per Christian’s Court.
per @BenRothenberg's latest report, Aryna Sabalenka has split with coach Max Miryni after 14 months. I asked Sabalenka about her partnership with Miryni after her win vs. Muchova earlier today https://t.co/mMUfcU1WeK
— Christian's Court (@christianscourt) November 10, 2026
“He would always message and give his advice, and yeah, having someone who was, I feel like, almost invisible or really number one in doubles to help me with that net approach, it’s really important.
“He’d been mostly focusing on my game at the net, and we’re trying to improve that.”
She spoke generally after beating Muchova in a brilliant opening win and said that getting the W, no matter how it goes, is firmly the name of the game and that she is just trying to stay in winning form and consistent.
"I feel like this year, Indian Wells overall because we’re here, has been really good for me," Sabalenka said. "So I really hope that this is going to help me at the finals. I think just trying to take it as a normal tournament.
But in the round robin, I’m just trying to win every match I play and at the same time trying to stay in the moment and focus on my game, on each point, and trying to stay calm and in control. So I guess that’s probably that's the secret to consistency."
Read also
She faces Mirra Andreeva next up, the French Open champion defeated Sabalenka in their last match in the 2025 Indian Wells final, but she will take that as a rematch mentality and for revenge.
"I mean, for sure, always," Sabalenka said, laughing. "But that match was an incredible match. I’m not sure, but I think she won her first 1000 event at that time, and she played incredible tennis in the final. I remember it was a lot of moving, a lot of running, and a lot of great tennis. And I’m looking forward, and I’ll take that match as a rematch mentality."
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