NATIONAL BANK OPEN

August 6, 2024

Aryna Sabalenka

Press Conference

THE MODERATOR: Who would like to ask the first question?

Q. Just wondering how you're feeling coming into this week. You played in Washington last week after the injury before Wimbledon, how are you feeling right now?

ARYNA SABALENKA: I feel really happy to be back. It's a really beautiful tournament. I missed Toronto. Yeah, I played Washington after the injury, and, I mean, I would say I didn't play my best there, but I guess I just needed those matches to get back on track. Yeah, I'm doing everything I can to bring better tennis here in Toronto than there in Washington.

Q. You had some really great results on the clay, which I think it's probably fair to say is not your best surface. Now you're back on the hard courts which is your best surface. How are you taking the confidence from those good results into a part of the season where normally you do quite well?

ARYNA SABALENKA: I love to play on clay court. I don't know why people think that this is not my best surface. I probably feel better on clay than on hard, to be honest. But, yeah, result-wise, I'm better on hard court (laughing.)

Yeah, I mean, clay court is different tennis. It's longer rallies, you need to build a point, you need to finish the point. It's definitely good thing for the hard court where the points become shorter and faster, and probably physically you're better after clay court, because after playing such long rallies you feel much better playing on hard court. I guess that's what I'm taking from the clay court result is, like, my physical ability probably is better.

Q. With your current form many are expecting big things from you here in Toronto. How do you manage those expectations and how do you keep your focus match by match?

ARYNA SABALENKA: I mean, that's not my expectation, that's someone else expectation. I guess I'm willing not to think about that. I'm just trying to focus on myself, and, yes, I know that if I'll be able to bring my best tennis, I know that I can, yeah, I can do really great on the tournament. I'm just trying to focus on myself and on bringing my best tennis every time I'm on the court.