Aryna Sabalenka has revealed a new addition to her team, former Belarusian tennis star Max Mirnyi. The 48-year-old retired in 2019 after a decorated career in doubles. He is an Olympic gold medalist in mixed doubles from the 2012 London Games with Victoria Azarenka and a former world No. 1 in doubles. Mirnyi also claimed 10 Grand Slam titles, including six in men’s doubles and four in mixed doubles, two of those in 1998 alongside Serena Williams.
Sabalenka said that Mirnyi adds a fresh and reliable perspective to her camp. She acknowledged that some of their focus will be on improving her net play. This focus may come as a surprise, given that she began her career with significant success in doubles, winning four major titles with Elise Mertens. Sabalenka said on Tennis Channel:
He is very intelligent. I am very happy to see him enjoying life; he went through very tough situations. He is definitely helping us with the net work. He also gave me a couple of tips on the serve, which are really working well for now, and I hope they only get better. Bringing a new voice to the team is also important.
Mirnyi’s experience at the top level makes him a valuable resource for Sabalenka. His insights could help her refine areas of her game that are less often tested in singles matches. The partnership signals her intent to keep evolving as a player.
It is unknown how long Sabalenka had been considering this move. Mirnyi spent late 2023 and early 2024 recovering from surgery and treatment for a malignant brain tumor. His return to the sport marks a new chapter for both him and Sabalenka.
Emma Raducanu sets up clash with Aryna Sabalenka at Cincinnati Open
Top seed Aryna Sabalenka will meet Emma Raducanu in the next round of the Cincinnati Open. The 2021 US Open champion will be looking for revenge after losing to Sabalenka in the Wimbledon third round just a month ago. In that encounter, Sabalenka won 7-6, 6-4, relying on her composure in crucial moments and capitalizing on shared opportunities.