MUTUA MADRID OPEN

April 29, 2021

Aryna Sabalenka

Press Conference

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. How are you feeling about the start of your clay court season and the final in Stuttgart?

ARYNA SABALENKA: Well, of course I'm happy with the final. Of course, I wanted to finish it differently, but it is how it is and I'm really happy that actually I made the final from the first tournament.

Yeah, it's a good start.

Q. How are you feeling on the clay this year compared to other seasons?

ARYNA SABALENKA: I felt really good. I like clay court, actually. Feels good. Yeah, we'll see.

Q. You were saying you are really happy with the results that are coming. You had such a big year. Maybe Madrid is the place where clay suits you best because it's a little bit quicker?

ARYNA SABALENKA: I mean, last years I couldn't do well here, even the court was a little bit faster. But this year I feel a little bit better on the clay, a little bit different. Yeah, actually it feels really good playing here, especially I practice yesterday in the stadium. It feels so good.

Yeah, the clay is really like a little bit faster than it was before. So, yeah, feels good. Yeah, I'll do my best here.

Q. What about Caja Magica, such a different venue? How would you describe the stadium?

ARYNA SABALENKA: Madrid stadium, you said?

Q. Yes, the facility. It's like a box, a little bit weird.

ARYNA SABALENKA: Yeah, it's a little bit different. I don't know, I like it. I like big stadiums. Doesn't matter how they looks. I feel good in them. A little bit more space, I feel free there. Yeah, it feels good.

Q. You were joking on social media with your fitness trainer by trying to stay low. What adjustments are you working on on clay that aren't as important as on other surfaces or in general?

ARYNA SABALENKA: First of all, I have to be ready for long rallies. Physically I have to be ready. Of course, you have to stay low and move a little bit differently on the clay court, using my legs on the clay courts.

Yeah, we worked a lot for the clay court.

Q. Last week there was no crowd in Stuttgart, but this week there will be some fans. How do you change your expectation about playing on the court?

ARYNA SABALENKA: I don't know. I'm really happy. I actually didn't know here it would be crowd. I'm really happy to see people watching us, even our practice. It feels different.

I don't know. I really like to play in front of the people. Yeah, I'm looking forward. I'm really happy that people will watch us. Yeah, that's give me a lot more energy. Yeah, it's more enjoyable to play actually matches when people are watching you.