Aryna Sabalenka has made it clear she will not impose a training ban on herself at Wimbledon, stating she is open to hitting with Iga Swiatek or any of her top rivals. The world number one's stance directly contrasts with Roger Federer, who famously refused to practice with players he considered direct competitors during grand slams.
Sabalenka Advances at Wimbledon
Sabalenka has already secured her place in the second round after defeating qualifier Teodora Kostovic in straight sets in one hour and five minutes. The Belarusian is eager to go all the way this year after being stopped in the semi-final by eventual runner-up Amanda Anisimova in 2025.
The four-time Grand Slam winner has yet to win a major in 2026, with Elena Rybakina beating her in the Australian Open final and teenage sensation Mirra Andreeva claiming her first big triumph at the French Open.
Sabalenka's Open Approach to Practice
Defending champion Swiatek, who begins her title defence against Taylor Townsend on Tuesday, is one of the firm favourites alongside Sabalenka. Despite the rivalry, the 28-year-old refused to rule out practising with Swiatek or other top contenders this week.
“I don’t mind practising, it doesn’t matter who that is. If it’s Jelena [Ostapenko], if it’s Iga, if it’s [Jessica] Pegula, someone who’s tough out there, and I can face them. I don’t mind that, to be honest,” Sabalenka said.
“I think it’s all about which coach is friends with whom, then somehow… I don’t know, we keep the same players, the ones I’m hitting with. I don’t mind practising. I can practise with anyone, to be honest.”
Federer's Contrasting Policy
Sabalenka's comments highlight her different approach compared to Federer. Andy Murray recently revealed that he used to train with Federer early in his career, but the Swiss legend stopped once Murray became a threat at major tournaments. Federer was the only one of the big three—alongside Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic—who avoided practising with rivals.
“I would practice with them, I’d practice with Djokovic and Nadal. When I first started, I would practice with Federer. But after a year or two he stopped, he wouldn’t practice with me anymore,” Murray said. “He never practised with Djokovic or Nadal, I think because he considered them to be a competitor.”
