MUBADALA CITI DC OPEN

August 2, 2024

Aryna Sabalenka

Press Conference

A. SABALENKA/V. Azarenka

6-4, 6-4

THE MODERATOR: Aryna, could you share your thoughts on the match.

ARYNA SABALENKA: Yeah, that was great match. She's incredible player. Always tough battles against her. She always bring the best fight she can. I always enjoy playing against her.

Just super happy to get through this tough match.

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. You mentioned after the first match the other night you were wondering how you were going to hold up. How are you holding up going into the weekend?

ARYNA SABALENKA: Yeah, I'm super happy. I'm doing really great so far. Fingers crossed, the injury in the past. Yeah, I feel really good.

I just don't want to say a lot because I feel as soon as I say something, it's just changed. I just want to say that we are doing everything we can with my team to keep my shoulder strong and make sure that what happen in Berlin will never happen again.

Q. The two matches you've had have been tough matches. How do you feel as far as where your game is?

ARYNA SABALENKA: Yeah, I mean, this is definitely two really hard matches to play after a little time off after injury.

At the same time I'm really happy to face such tough opponent at Kamilla and Victoria because they push me to the fight. That's what I need after little break. It just help me to get back faster.

I feel like with every set I would say I play, I play better and better. Hopefully I can just building my level and by the US Open I'll be 100% ready.

Q. How much have you been following the Olympics, the results?

ARYNA SABALENKA: Olympics?

Q. Yes.

ARYNA SABALENKA: I'm so embarrassing to say that, but I didn't really followed it. I was just checking result at the end of the day, watching a little bit of each sport, but not really.

Right now I'm, like, not in the best stage I would say coming back after injury and trying to focus on myself. Yeah, I'm following a little bit.

Q. Have you been surprised with the results, Zheng Qinwen and Vekic being in the final?

ARYNA SABALENKA: I don't want to say something bad about the players. Honestly, of course, I expected Iga to win a gold medal. It's Paris. That's her place. That's what my expectation was.

But girls are playing incredible tennis. I think this final going to be be really cool to watch. Yeah, I'm probably -- not probably - I'm going to watch the final if I'm not going to play my match. I'm sure this is going to be really great battle.

Q. The first set tonight was the windiest it felt out there the entire tournament. Was it affecting you?

ARYNA SABALENKA: Yeah, I would say it wasn't that windy at the beginning of the game. At the end of the set it start to get really windy. It's affected a little bit my serve. I didn't adjust quite well. My toss was going, like, back and forth. Yeah, I would say it's affected little bit for probably one service game.

But I'm happy that I was able to adjust little bit better and to win that set.

Q. Were you able to appreciate the atmosphere? Pretty good crowd.

ARYNA SABALENKA: Yeah, I don't know, I'm really enjoying being here in Washington. People, the support I'm feeling here is incredible. It was really enjoyable playing in front of all of them.

I mean, I didn't expect the full house for today's match. Probably they actually were waiting for Tiafoe to play. Let's be honest. Let's be realistic, right (smiling). I'm going to check how many people left.

No, I enjoyed so much playing in front of the crowd today.

Q. The extreme heat here, the humidity, the wind, the rain, how do you deal with these conditions that seem to be getting more extreme? Can you prepare for that as you prepare for an opponent or...

ARYNA SABALENKA: I mean, my mentality in these tough condition is just like everybody face this condition. It's not like I'm the only one who is facing this wind, rain or whatever. Sometimes you just cannot control these conditions and you have to adjust.

On the other side of the net there is the same player, and she's also dealing with tough conditions. I'm trying to kind of like adjust to the conditions as much as I can, just keep focusing on my game.

As soon as you start focusing on the rest, like your game is off. I prefer just to focus on myself and control the game as much as I can.

Q. You'll face Bouzkova tomorrow. Quick turnaround. What are your thoughts?

ARYNA SABALENKA: Yeah, she's a great player. Even though the score was quite easy in our last meeting, anyway it was really tough battle. It wasn't that easy as it looks.

She's a great player, great fighter. I'm really expecting really great battle against her.