Talk helped Sabalenka

World No 1 Aryna Sabalenka (above) told AFP that she needs to improve her tennis “in literally everything” and how Novak Djokovic is helping her do it on and off the court.

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In a wide-ranging interview, the four-time Grand Slam champion talked about ignoring hate on social media, nearly quitting and her hopes and fears for life after tennis.

The 27-year-old from Belarus is now the undoubted women’s No 1 but it was hard work and suffering which got her there, and some of it played out very publicly.

Sabalenka, then two in the world, was reduced to tears as her serve spectacularly deserted her at a tournament in the lead-up to the 2022 Australian Open.

“I couldn’t put one serve in. I was double-faulting 40 times. And I was like, maybe that’s a sign that I have to quit,” she said in Hong Kong.