World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka Adopts Novak Djokovic's Return Strategy

Aryna Sabalenka, the current World No. 1 on the WTA Tour, has revealed that she has made a major strategic change after speaking with top-ranked player Novak Djokovic. The Belarusian star faced a tough season, with only minor victories on Grand Slams thus far in 2026, and now looks to bolster her game by copying Djokovic’s formidable return.

According to reporting by Tennis365, Sabalenka discussed her struggles and even asked for specific advice after spotting the champion's superior technique during a training session. 'I really like his return game,' she said in an interview with First&Red, explaining that she wanted to gain insights into how Djokovic prepares on the court.

Aryna’s latest adjustment aims at improving her reaction time and positioning on each ball; her main focus now is emulating Djokovic's split-step technique for a quicker response after receiving serves.

Incorporating his advice, Sabalenka says it has improved her overall return strategy, making it easier to react to different serve placements. 'Ever since then, he’s been like,