THE CHAMPIONSHIPS

July 2, 2021

Aryna Sabalenka

Press Conference

A. SABALENKA/M. Osorio Serrano

6-0, 6-3

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. Today you started by winning first set 6-0. When you begin so dominantly, how much will this confidence help you for your further matches?

ARYNA SABALENKA: Well, yeah, the score was 6-Love in the first set, but it wasn't that easy. Like, every game we were playing not like 40-Love, 40-Love. There was deuce and some advantage for her. She had a lot of breakpoints. I saved it.

Yeah, it was tough, tough first set. The second set also. It was not easy game against her. Yeah, really happy to win this match. Looking forward for the next week.

Q. After your second-round game, you said you wanted the crowd to give you that support. You got lovely applause at the end. Next time you might have the crowd on your side more.

ARYNA SABALENKA: Yeah, I'm hoping they're on my side in the next match, yeah.

Q. You won more matches than any other woman on the tour, never been seeded so high at a major. The draw is falling favorably with lots of top players going out. What is your confidence level about your own game and your title chances?

ARYNA SABALENKA: I don't know. I just keep working, keep improving my game. Like every match, it's a new match. You never know what's going to happen. You just need to bring your level on the court and fight for every point. This is what I'm doing on the court.

Yeah, I'm happy with these matches which I won, but it's already in the past. I want to focus, stay in the moment. I'm trying to focus on my game and just fight for every point, every opportunity I have.

Q. What are your earliest memories of watching Wimbledon? Who are the players you saw that made the most impact on you?

ARYNA SABALENKA: I don't remember actually. Maybe Serena because she was dominated like nobody else. Yeah, her game is actually right now also really impressive and strong. Yeah, maybe when I was young I kind of liked how she dominate on the tour. I think, yeah, Serena maybe.

Q. What did Wimbledon mean to you in your earliest memories? What aura, atmosphere did you feel about the place and the tournament?

ARYNA SABALENKA: I feel like Wimbledon, it's a special place. It's a special surface. I don't know. It's special atmosphere out here. I don't know. I enjoy it like never else. Can I say 'never'? Nowhere else. Can I say like that (laughter)?

Q. Obviously you're into the fourth round for the first time at Wimbledon. Are you feeling better on the grass every time you go out there? Growing up, was it a dream to win at Wimbledon?

ARYNA SABALENKA: When I was growing up, I was dreaming to win, I don't know, like Grand Slam. It doesn't matter which Grand Slam it's going to be.

Of course, it's something special to win Wimbledon. But I don't want to look that far because it's just fourth round. I want to focus on each game and try to do my best on each match.