Aryna Sabalenka reveals Novak Djokovic influence after downing ex-doubles partner Elise Mertens to reach Wimbledon quarter-finals

Sabalenka has been imperious on the grass in her pursuit of a first Grand Slam of the 2025 campaign, despite reaching the finals of both the Australian Open and French Open.

The world No. 1’s battling qualities were put firmly on display with victories over Marie Bouzkova and Emma Raducanu in the second and third rounds, and Sunday’s triumph was another lodged in the hard-fought category, as she closed out the 6-4 7-6(4) win in one hour and 35 minutes.

Sabalenka spent the days leading up to Wimbledon training with 24-time Grand Slam winner Novak Djokovic, and speaking after her fourth-round victory, she explained how his advice had been “really helping”.

“Talking a lot to Novak, like, he definitely has a lot of knowledge of the game,” she said. “It’s really helped me a lot several times. I mean, basically whenever I talk to him, it is really helping me.”

Sabalenka added: “One of the conversation went to like managing energy. Another one about the mental part of the game. Then we had another conversation about, like, mentally approaching those big finals.

“So yeah, I think mostly we’re talking about the mental part of the game. I mean, also one time he really helped me with the return.

“Now he’s always like making fun of me copying his return. I’m like, man, it’s working. I’m copying the best. Actually maybe I have to talk to him a bit more about tennis stuff.”

With 10 victories over Mertens in their previous 12 meetings, history showed Sabalenka had the measure of her Belgian opponent and she made it count early on.

A break to 15, courtesy of some thumping forehand winners, saw the three-time Grand Slam winner pull clear in the opening set.

Some outstanding net play saw Mertens unlock her imperious opponent to gain a leveller, breaking to 15, but Sabalenka continued to apply the pressure and ensured parity was only brief.

After spurning three break points in her hunt for an immediate break back, the No. 1 seed seized Mertens’ serve at a critical point to clinch the first set 6-4, fizzing a cross-court backhand which sat up nicely.

Mertens raised her game considerably in the second set, and took the game to Sabalenka by powering home some lukewarm second serves and gaining a 3-1 lead with a break.

The pair went on to showcase some dazzling tennis on Centre Court, Sabalenka displaying a delicious, deft touch at times, not refraining from coming to the net but also crunching her trademark ground-strokes.

They held to a tie-break conclusion, Mertens powering home four straight aces as she gave little away on serve.

But it was Sabalenka’s quality which shone through in the critical moments, as she clinched five mini-breaks in the tie-break – dispatching her first match point at the net with a reserved fist pump and respectful embrace of the former partner she won two Grand Slam doubles titles alongside between 2019 and 2021.

Sabalenka will face 37-year-old Laura Siegemund, the oldest player in the women’s draw who has yet to drop a set, in the quarter-finals.