THE CHAMPIONSHIPS

July 12, 2023

Aryna Sabalenka

Press Conference

A. SABALENKA/M. Keys

6-2, 6-4

THE MODERATOR: Welcome to the press conference of Aryna Sabalenka.

Aryna, semifinals. How is it feeling?

ARYNA SABALENKA: Yeah, it feels amazing. I'm super happy to be back in the semifinals. Really looking forward for my semifinals match.

Yeah, I want to do a little bit better than I did last time here (smiling).

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. You said on court you felt the crowd wanted Madison Keys to win. Was it a struggle for you to play with that atmosphere?

ARYNA SABALENKA: No, no, no. I mean, I kind of expected them to support her more than me. Anyway, it was amazing atmosphere. I mean, even if they support her, I mean, I was really enjoying playing in front of them.

Q. There was a moment in the second set when you were broken and Madison looked like she might have a bit of momentum. You snatched it right back. What happened there? What did you tell yourself to make sure it didn't get away from you?

ARYNA SABALENKA: Yeah, she played unbelievable tennis, like, the whole match. In those, like, few games, she played unbelievable. When she was serving for 5-2, 40-Love up, I was just, like, kind of telling myself that it's okay, we going to play third set, that's fine. Just try to put a little more pressure on her in this set so she didn't feel that much, like, confidence going into the third set.

I was just, like, trying my best. Lucky me, I won that game somehow, yeah, and turn around that second set.

Q. You've been incredibly consistent over the last year, three semifinals and a win in Australia. Is it making up for what you missed out on last summer, that you weren't able to play here?

ARYNA SABALENKA: Well, I was really sad that I couldn't play here last year. But at the same time I was thinking that, okay, it's a good time to kind of like reset and start everything over again.

Before grass season, like, I didn't play my best tennis. I was struggling a lot with my serve, with these emotions, with a lot of stuff. I just took that time as a good preparation, as a good like little switch. Everything start working better.

So I think in those, I don't know like how many weeks, probably three or four weeks, I did really good work, and it's help me at the US Open. Then I kind of, like, start believing in myself more, I start playing better, I start feeling better on court, emotionally I start feeling better.

I think those period gave me so much believe in myself. Yeah, so I'm kind of like I was very sad but at same time I was like, okay, this is probably something I really needed.

Q. The matchup now is Ons Jabeur, maybe the one you weren't anticipating.

ARYNA SABALENKA: No, actually we practiced here before Wimbledon. I felt like she's going to do well here because she played unbelievable tennis on practice court. I know it's different on practice than on match. She was able to bring this level on matches.

It's not like I didn't expect that. Yeah, she's a great player. We always had tough battles against each other, very close matches. I really looking forward for this great battle.

Q. What's the biggest motivation? What's most important for you: the chance to get your first Wimbledon final or to become world No. 1 for the first time?

ARYNA SABALENKA: To be honest, I want both (smiling). But I'm trying to focus on myself because I know if I'll start thinking about all this stuff, I'm going to lose my focus on court, my game. So I'm trying to focus on myself right now and make sure that every time I'm on the court I bring my best tennis.

Then later on we'll see if I'm ready to become world No. 1 or if I'm ready to play another final.

Q. Do you feel like you're playing like the best player in the world at the moment?

ARYNA SABALENKA: I mean, I feel like I'm one of the best. There is other great players. I mean, it's not like I'm the best right now. I feel like one of the best.

Q. On court you spoke of dreaming of Wimbledon since you were a little girl. What did you visualize as a little girl about The Championships and what images are in your mind about the possibility of winning The Championships now?

ARYNA SABALENKA: I remember myself, I don't know, 14 or 15 years old going on my practice with the headphones listening to music and, like, dreaming becoming one of the best players in the world, dreaming about lifting this beautiful trophies.

I mean, that's something unbelievable. That's something what really motivates me a lot, that I was able to become one of the best. I'm competing on the high level. So that's something big for me.

I mean, I'm going to do everything I can to lift this beautiful trophy.

Q. What is most special about the Wimbledon championship for you?

ARYNA SABALENKA: I think like historically this is special event. Even like - how to say - in the players area, everything like a little bit different compared to the rest of the slams. Like top players able to be separate, in the separate locker room.

It's special. If you win Wimbledon, you get - how does it called - membership here. Yeah, I think it's, like, more history behind the Wimbledon. Yeah, that's why it's very special.

Q. Ons Jabeur said on Centre Court a bit ago she was disappointed you won so quickly.

ARYNA SABALENKA: I saw that. I was in the locker room watching her interview sending kisses and love (laughter).

Q. Do you have the advantage in the semifinal?

ARYNA SABALENKA: I think she was just joking. She's very nice girl. She has such a good sense of humor. I don't think it's going to give me any advantage.

Anyway, it's going to be great battle, tough match. Doesn't matter what she said, she's just fun girl.

Q. You spoke earlier in the week about wanting some clarity from the organization on handshakes after matches. Have you heard anything since then from any of the organizations or fellow players?

ARYNA SABALENKA: I mean, players understand everything. I saw tweet yesterday. They made this statement which is really good. I think people also need to know what's going on and why there is no handshake between Ukrainians, Russian, and Belarusian players.

I mean, it's good to have this statement. I really hope that nobody else will face this reaction from the crowd.

Q. About Ons, how would you describe the determination she shows on the court and what makes her game special?

ARYNA SABALENKA: She has really good touch. Especially on the grass court, all her slices, dropshots work really well here on grass court.

I feel like mentally she's really strong. She's making the history. I think this is the biggest motivation for her. That's why she's really doing well this season, and especially here at Wimbledon.

So, yeah, I think her tricky game is really, really challenging to play against.