Sabalenka credits Mirnyi after Indian Wells Win

World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka credited her coach, Max Mirnyi, after defeating Naomi Osaka to reach the quarterfinals of the BNP Paribas Open.

Sabalenka produced a strong performance to beat the four-time Grand Slam champion 6-2, 6-4 at Indian Wells, continuing her run in one of the biggest events on the WTA calendar.

Speaking after the match in an interview with Sky Sports, Sabalenka highlighted the influence Mirnyi has had on her game since joining her team in 2025.

“He brought a lot, he’s such a nice guy, he knows tennis really well,” Sabalenka said.

The Belarusian explained that Mirnyi has helped her improve different aspects of her game, including her approach at the baseline as well as adding more variety.

“Not only serve and volley, he also helped me in baseline strokes. He helped a lot, very smart approach.”

Mirnyi is one of the most respected figures in Belarusian tennis. During his playing career, he won multiple Grand Slam titles in doubles and mixed doubles and spent years among the top players on the ATP doubles tour.

His experience appears to be helping Sabalenka add tactical layers to her already powerful game, something that was visible in her match against Osaka, where she mixed hitting with more variety at the net.

With the win, Sabalenka moves into the quarterfinals at Indian Wells and continues her push for another major title as the season progresses.