Aryna Sabalenka has reached the final of the Madrid Open after a long struggle. Saba dug down with her coaching team as she faced a slump after her Australian Open victory. Her coach, Anton Dubrov, is a well-known guide who has been with Sabalenka since 2020. However, not many know about her hitting partner, whose presence launched her to new heights. 

When Dubrov joined her team, he was her hitting partner but she quickly found her way as her head coach. In 2023, Saba employed Andrei Aleksandrovich Vasilevski as her hitting partner, and results followed quickly for her. 

Meet Aryna Sabalenka’s hitting partner, Andrei Vasilevski

Andrei Aleksandrovich Vasilevski (born May 28, 1991) is an inactive Belarusian professional tennis player. He got his career-high doubles ranking of World No. 52 on February 5, 2018. Vasilevski first competed for the Belarus Davis Cup team in 2009. Vasilevski had a short career in tennis. He played in the ATP Tour in 2017 and retired from the sport in 2021. During his time in the ATP, he reached 5 finals in doubles of 250 series. He won his only ATP doubles title in the 2021 Belgrade Open with partner Jonathan Erlich. 

Vasilevski reached the quarterfinal of the 2017 Wimbledon Gentlemen’s Doubles with Hans Podlipnik-Castillo. Vasilevski shined on the Futures and Challengers Tour, where he reached the final 75 times in doubles, winning 41 titles and one singles title on the Futures Tour. Since he joined hands with Sabalenka, he has become a more consistent player.

She won her first Australian Open title in 2023 and managed to defend her title in 2024. The former number 2 also managed to rise to number 1 as she reached the final of the US Open for the first time in her along with semifinals of French Open and Wimbledon.

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A partnership is only possible if the involved members get along with each other. Saba and Vasilevski have a good rapport, as one could see from their moment in Madrid.

Aryna Sabalenka and hitting partner in a cheeky moment during Madrid Open

The Madrid Open saw Sabalenka facing down many players in intense match-ups. But when the chance came to have a fun moment with her team, she did not let it slip by her. In her clash with Magda Linette, Sabalenka had the chance to smash the ball near the net, and she took it enthusiastically. Her shot reached her box, where Vasilevski caught it.

A fan shared the video of the moment with the caption, “Coaches watch out 😅Aryna Sabalenka smashed her ball into her coach’s box, her hitting partner Andrei Vasilevski caught it 😅😅😂 funny things!” After he caught the ball, Sabalenka did the ‘I’m watching you’ gesture, which also made the commentators laugh.

Sabalenka has a solid coaching team at the moment, and they have helped her in times of trouble. Can they take her to an even higher level in 2024?.