As Novak Djokovic powers through the Shanghai Masters, his unlikely secret weapon emerged from an unexpected corner of the tennis world: World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka. A revelation has gone viral on social media, reportedly the “Djoko-Aryna bromance reloaded,” stems from Sabalenka's sun-soaked vacation in Greece following her triumphant second US Open title in September. While unwinding with her boyfriend, Brazilian-Greek entrepreneur Georgios Frangulis, founder of the acai empire Oakberry, the couple reportedly crossed paths with Djokovic and his wife, Jelena.
In a post-match press conference at the Wuhan Open on Wednesday, the Belarusian player Aryna Sabalenka playfully took ownership of the 24-time Grand Slam champion's dominant run, crediting
their recent “fun” double date in Greece and a series of competitive practice sessions for sharpening his edge. “He’s gonna win the tournament, and I'm gonna say it was all me,” Sabalenka quipped, her grin lighting up the room as she detailed their off-court bonding and on-court banter. Sabalenka posted some photos on Instagram last Friday, posting a carousel of cozy photos: the two couples beaming arm-in-arm against a sunset-kissed backdrop, Djokovic flashing his trademark mischievous smile, and Jelena sharing a knowing glance with Frangulis and captioned simply “Dream double date.”
“He was really competitive, but I won a lot of points against him,” Aryna Sabalenka said on practice with Novak Djokovic
“He was really competitive, and he was screaming. But I won a lot of points against him, for the record. I hope he's gonna confirm that," Aryna Sabalenka reportedly said with a wink. She further added about her practice sessions with Novak Djokovic, “But yeah, we went for dinner. We practiced a couple of times. I hope I was a great hitting partner. So far, he's winning in Shanghai. I guess it was a good one. I really hope he goes all the way.” Djokovic arrived in Shanghai fresh off a US Open semifinal loss to Carlos Alcaraz on September 6, 2025.
The 38-year-old is seeking a record-extending fifth Shanghai title and his first hard-court crown since 2023, has looked vintage in his first three matches: straight-sets demolition of Marin Cilic (6-3, 6-2) in the opener, a three-setter over Alex de Minaur (6-4, 3-6, 6-3), and a comeback win against Tallon Griekspoor (4-6, 6-4, 6-2) on Tuesday, October 7, 2025. His quarterfinal clash with Holger Rune looms Friday, October 10, 2025, followed by potential semifinals against Jannik Sinner or Andrey Rublev.
