OMNIUM BANQUE NATIONALE

August 11, 2023

Aryna Sabalenka

Press Conference

L. SAMSONOVA/A. Sabalenka

7-6, 4-6, 6-3

THE MODERATOR: Aryna, if you can just give us your thoughts on the match today. It was obviously a tough battle out there.

ARYNA SABALENKA: Yeah, it was a really tough match. She played unbelievable tennis.

Unfortunately, physically I wasn't ready to play at my highest level today, but I'm still happy with the level I showed. More likely the fighting spirit than the level.

Yeah, overall great week. Amazing support. I'm really disappointed I lost and I'm not able to enjoy this atmosphere again. Yeah, tough match.

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. Did the fact that you were supposed to play yesterday and you ended up playing today add any affect on today's match for you?

ARYNA SABALENKA: Yeah, I mean, we're all in the same conditions. Not like all. Only four of us.

But it is how it is, and I didn't deal well with these conditions. Next time I'll try a little better.

Q. What would you say was the main difficulty for you today?

ARYNA SABALENKA: Yeah, I would say that because physically I didn't feel well, so I wasn't able to move as good as I could, to serve as good as I could, so this was the toughest one for me today.

Q. Aryna, earlier this week we had talked about how you have calmed yourself a little bit on court. You're still one of the most fun players to watch because of how engaged you are and because of your reactions. Do you know what you're doing on court, and do you think you managed your emotions that much better today?

ARYNA SABALENKA: No, definitely not as good as I can today. Yeah, that's why sometimes I don't like to watch my matches because seeing myself struggling so much with emotions, I just can't handle watching it.

But, yeah, today wasn't the best performance from me. I mean, physically the way how I kind of hold emotions. Yeah, but it's okay. I'll learn something from this match and move on.

Q. What do you think was the turning point in this match today?

ARYNA SABALENKA: Well, there was a lot of -- probably in the first set when I double faulted when I was 2-1 up, and I double faulted, and then she kind of like step in a little bit, and I was just trying to survive in that tiebreak.

Probably that point was one of the important ones. You know, there was a lot of points, but yeah, I guess it's just not the best day for me today.