Maria Sharapova calls on Wall Street Journal to “do better” after Aryna Sabalenka headline

Maria Sharapova is asking the Wall Street Journal to “do better” after calling out the newspaper’s Wimbledon coverage of world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka.

The 2004 champion took to social media to criticize a WSJ Instagram post featuring a smiling Sabalenka during a practice session with a caption that read, “The world No. 1 who hits so hard she practices against men.” It included an excerpt from reporter Joshua Robinson’s article:

“In fact, the 27-year-old Sabalenka now crushes the ball so forcefully that she needs new practice partners. And, as it turns out, the right players for the job happen to be people she could never face in singles competition… ⁠That’s because they’re men.⁠”

Read More: Mixed madness! Aryna Sabalenka practices with Novak Djokovic and Jannik Sinner at Wimbledon

The piece highlighted Sabalenka’s recent practice sessions with ATP stars like fellow world No. 1 Jannik Sinner and 24-time Grand slam champion Novak Djokovic, framing the relaxed and casual hits as necessary due to a shortage of partners “who could handle her powerful groundstrokes."

The only problem? Practicing with male players is hardly unusual—especially for Sabalenka.

The Belarusian has trained with male hitting partners for years. In fact, her current coach, Anton Dubrov, originally joined her team as a travelling hitting partner. Most WTA players do the same: Serena Williams, Venus Williams, Sharapova herself, and many more have long used male practice partners during tournaments.

“What is this headline and what is this article. You can do better @WSJ,” Sharapova wrote on her Instagram Stories, sharing the post to her 4.7 million followers.

Read More: Novak Djokovic crashes Aryna Sabalenka's Wimbledon press conference, jokingly tells her to up the 'intensity'

When asked about her sessions with Sinner and Djokovic, Sabalenka has emphasized the mental and tactical value—not brute force.

“You see the different approach to the balls. You're learning,” she told press after her first-round win. “I think it really helped my tennis, to be honest.

“Now there is some balls that I used to struggle a little. Right now, I kind of understand a little bit better how to adjust to those balls. I feel like even today on the match and on the practice after hitting with the guys, I felt like I improved couple of things in my game.”

Sabalenka says that she especially values the opportunity to speak with Djokovic about his famous mental toughness and match preparations—conversations that have already helped her make winning adjustments.

“One of the conversation went to managing energy. Another one about the mental part of the game. Then we had another conversation about, like, mentally approaching those big finals,” the No. 1 seed revealed.

“Also one time he really help me with the return. Now he's always making fun of me copying his return. I'm like, ‘Man, it's working! I'm copying the best.’

“Actually, maybe I have to talk to him a bit more about tennis stuff!”

Read More: Aryna Sabalenka conquers inspired Laura Siegemund on Wimbledon Centre Court

So far, it is working. Sabalenka is into the Wimbledon semifinals for the third time in her career, having dropped just one set during the fortnight. In Tuesday’s comeback win over Laura Siegemund, she generated 13 break opportunities and converted eight to win 4-6, 6-2, 6-4.

Sabalenka returns to Centre Court on Thursday, where she’ll face Amanda Anisimova for a place in her first Wimbledon final.