MUTUA MADRID OPEN

May 3, 2024

Aryna Sabalenka

Press Conference

A. SABALENKA/E. Rybakina

1-6, 7-5, 7-6

THE MODERATOR: Congratulations on that amazing match. How did you turn that one around?

ARYNA SABALENKA: Honestly, I don't know. I was just trying to do my best, trying to fight for every point. I was hoping that I'll have opportunity to turn this match around, and yeah, super happy that I was able to do that.

Yeah, happy with this tough match and with this tough win.

THE MODERATOR: Questions.

Q. Congrats on a great win. How important in that second set, even though you were, like, a set and a break down, you started to get through service games a little bit easier than you had in the first half of the match. How much did that kind of settle things for you in terms of kind of helping you elevate your level through the end of the match?

ARYNA SABALENKA: I mean, yeah, definitely I was struggling a lot on my serve in the first set, and definitely kind of easy games on my serve gave me a bit more belief that I still got some chances in this match.

Yeah, that's kind of, like, gave me an extra energy to keep fighting and keep trying on her serve to break her and get back in the match. But, yeah, it was very important to kind of, like, get back to normal on my serve, and yeah, to keep fighting for this match.

Q. You have incredible stats on tiebreaks this year. How can you explain it?

ARYNA SABALENKA: Sorry?

Q. Incredible statistics on tiebreaks. You have won, like, 11 tiebreaks or...

ARYNA SABALENKA: Oh, really? Didn't know that.

Q. Something like that. Can you explain what is your mindset during the tiebreak and in this final one?

ARYNA SABALENKA: Probably the thing that I'm not thinking about, these statistics, is also helping me a little bit. But the mindset is just to stay aggressive and to focus on myself and focus on things I have to do in this match to get the win.

Yeah, just try not to think that about anything else. Yeah, that's the main mindset on the tiebreak is just to keep staying aggressive and not trying to, I don't know, like, be safe or, like, not to risk. For me, it's work better when I go for my shots and when I risk sometimes. It's actually working better.

Q. Looking to the final, what is your feeling?

ARYNA SABALENKA: I mean, it's going to be great final. We had so many great matches with Iga. Always tough battles.

I'm super excited for this final. Once again, I'm going to do everything to get this win.

Q. You have beaten her last year in finals. Will you adapt the same strategy, or...

ARYNA SABALENKA: I mean, I think that we are all improving and we are all changing throughout the year, so I'm going to watch her matches and see if I have to adjust my strategy (smiling).

But the main strategy for me is just to focus on myself and to stay aggressive and just trust my shots, and that's it.

Q. Congrats. Elena mentioned that when she was serving for it at 5-4, she missed the forehand, that might have been a turning point. You said you're focused on yourself, but are you aware of when your opponent is nervous and moments to capitalize on that?

ARYNA SABALENKA: I didn't get your question at all. You know, it's quite late. What did she mention? I don't even remember, to be honest.

Q. When she served for the match at 5-4.

ARYNA SABALENKA: She was serving for the match?

Q. Second set.

ARYNA SABALENKA: Second set, yeah.

Q. She missed the forehand?

ARYNA SABALENKA: She missed the forehand.

Q. Clearly you don't even remember it.

ARYNA SABALENKA: Wide, yeah? Yeah, probably that was the key moment. That's why I'm saying, I don't know how I was able to came back in this match. Probably she missed her opportunities. I used my opportunities. Yeah, that's it.

You know, maybe that was the key point. I don't even remember. Wow. I mean, my memory is terrible, guys. If you ask what happened to me ten minutes ago, I will be, like, thinking, okay, what was there (smiling)?

Q. On the match 12 months ago against Iga here...

ARYNA SABALENKA: Okay.

Q. ...you can say "I don't know," but how high do you rate that performance in that final against her in terms of your quality on clay? Was that the best clay court match you had ever played?

ARYNA SABALENKA: Yeah, definitely. I would say that that was the best match I ever played, especially on clay court. I think the level was just super high.

It was clean, it was intense, powerful game. Yeah, like, I think that was the best final I ever played.

Q. Coming into that match last year, I remember you were saying that you had specific training blocks with Iga in mind that you needed to catch up to her?

ARYNA SABALENKA: Yeah.

Q. Did that continue during the year after you beat her that day?

ARYNA SABALENKA: It's not that strong, but, you know, when I'm working out, working out really hard and going through tough moments on the practice court or in the fitness, always thinking I have to keep working, keep improving, keep getting better, make sure that I stay -- not stay, actually, that I'm getting better and that I'm going to get closer to this No. 1 position, and I'm going to put a little more pressure on top players.

So that's always there, you know, like, it's good. I like it. That's why I like, you call three of us Big 3, that's why I like it, because I feel like we are motivating each other and not giving, like -- what I was about to say? So we kind of, like, giving each other hard time and always have to keep working hard and keep searching for things.

Guys, it's quite late. My thoughts are, like, off.

Q. In the beginning of the tournament, you have spoken about the Big 2. You are in the final. Is there the Big 3 back?

ARYNA SABALENKA: I mean, we will see how this season will going, you know? It's just one tournament. They have been playing really great on each tournament and didn't drop the level much.

I have been off for, I don't know how many tournaments, I don't even want to think about that, so we'll see how the season goes, and hopefully we'll get back to these Big 3.