Djokovic and Sabalenka spent a while training collectively on the All England Membership this week forward of the beginning of the grass-court Grand Slam match. Djokovic, a seven-time Wimbledon champion, then playfully interrupted the top of Sabalenka’s information convention on Saturday by telling her to rush up so he might take over the rostrum.

Sabalenka then took on the function of interviewer as reporters had been asking her about their session on courtroom.

“What did you consider hitting with me?” the three-time main winner requested Djokovic. “How do you see my stage? Am I good?”

Djokovic, who holds a complete of 24 Grand Slams, was fast with a quip.

“I feel you will have the potential. You are like a extremely gifted participant,” he mentioned, earlier than providing a criticism of Sabalenka — who is called one of many largest hitters on the ladies’s circuit.

“Can I be sincere? You are missing depth on the courtroom,” Djokovic mentioned, drawing laughter. “You do not have sufficient depth. It is too flat. You have to loosen up a bit bit and put some energy into it.”

Djokovic has expertise with this sort of hijinks . Again on the All England Membership in 2011, it was the then-second ranked Serb on the podium when then-No. 1 Caroline Wozniacki crashed his information convention and peppered him with questions.

Djokovic went on to win his first Wimbledon title, whereas Wozniacki misplaced within the fourth spherical.

Djokovic opens his bid for an eighth Wimbledon title on Tuesday when he performs Alexandre Muller of France. Sabalenka performs Carson Branstine on Monday.