US OPEN

September 3, 2024

Aryna Sabalenka

Press Conference

A. SABALENKA/Z. Qinwen

6-1, 6-2

THE MODERATOR: Aryna, if you could, your thoughts on today's win.

ARYNA SABALENKA: Yeah, very important win. It wasn't that easy as the score looks, and she's a great player.

I'm really happy to win this match in two sets, and I'm really happy with the level I played today, so it was great performance.

THE MODERATOR: Questions.

Q. A lot of people are talking about you as the tournament favorite. Do you like that kind of label or would you rather not have that pressure?

ARYNA SABALENKA: I mean, if you get to the top-5 level, anyway, everyone will take you as a favorite. But as I always say, it's not about being favorite, it's about how hard you're ready to fight for it. It's going to be tough moments in the matches when you don't feel your best and you have to go through it. It's all about that.

But I'm really glad they take me as a favorite, and I'll do my very best to hold this beautiful trophy.

Q. You have always been very open about any struggles you're facing. In the past you had a barrier in the slams and then you broke it. With the serve, you broke it. If you can share a No. 1 thing that has helped you to become mentally tough at this level, what would it be?

ARYNA SABALENKA: Hmm. I really think that the biggest key is, I really believe that to have right people around you. You know, it's all about being honest with yourself, first of all, and then be able to open to the people around you, especially when it's your coach, and talk openly about stuff which bothering you during the match and try to figure out the solution together, you know.

I think that's the main thing what really helped me to went through all those tough challenges in my life.

Q. Next you play Emma. What do you remember most about the two matches you had with her, and what are your observations about her progress as a player?

ARYNA SABALENKA: Yeah, she's doing really well. Beautiful to see she's working hard, playing really great tennis, smart tennis, moving well, hitting pretty heavy shots.

Last two matches we played was really tough, tough matches physically and mentally. Even though I won the last one in two sets, it wasn't that easy match, and it was very intense match.

Yeah, I'm really looking for another great battle against her.

Q. Your styles are so different.

ARYNA SABALENKA: Yeah.

Q. What does that do for the matchup, do you think?

ARYNA SABALENKA: Wow, what a question. I mean, I'm gonna try to put so much pressure on her and probably try not let her do her stuff, you know. Yeah.

I have to think about that tomorrow, and I have to talk about that tomorrow with my coach, you know. I'll just throw it on him (laughter).

Q. Generally speaking, when you see that women's WTA Tour, current WTA Tour, and you compare current tennis to four or five years ago, do you see any differences in terms of the level or depth of players or variety of play styles?

ARYNA SABALENKA: Well, it's very tough for me to compare, because, like, like five years ago was completely different player and I saw stuff differently than I see it right now.

But I definitely see a lot of improvement in the women's tennis. Everyone is getting mentally stronger. Everyone knows how to play tennis. I think tennis is much faster right now. Talking about speed and the way everyone moves. There is statistics. You know, like, everyone kind of know each other, and it's all about those key moments in the match who's gonna handle that pressure moment better.

But I definitely think that woman's tennis improved a lot, and it's more fun to watch, especially, like, deeper stages of the tournaments. I think it's really fun to watch.

Yeah, I see big progress.

Q. You've made eight of the last nine slam semifinals when you've been in the draw. I'm curious how normal does it feel now compared to obviously when you started making deep runs? I imagine you must have celebrated them more than you do now.

ARYNA SABALENKA: Yeah. Yeah, I became more experienced player, and I think I have better consistency in the game right now.

Before, when you just coming up on tour, like for you making the second week, it's something crazy, and you see stuff like crazy, and you put so much pressure on you about the Grand Slams, about the results and everything. And you just, you know, you're always under pressure.

Honestly, before, I didn't even know how to manage that pressure. On those days off I would think too much about tennis and I would just waste my energy on that.

Nowadays, I'm just trying to take things easier, which is, like, sounds interesting, but I'm just trying to take it easy, just tennis, you know. I'm just trying to bring my best tennis every time and just trying to fight for it, and I know that no matter what's gonna happen on the court, I'm gonna fight for it.

You know, if it's meant to be, it's going to happen. The only thing you can control is yourself and you just literally have to fight for it. Yeah, basically that's it, and it's help me to kind of be able to enjoy the journey, you know, which is not always easy to do.

Q. I have seen an article that you sometimes bet money during training session with your staff. I would like to know if it's true, and which type of exercises, which amount of money, and if you win most of the time or not?

ARYNA SABALENKA: Well, my coach put the money on the table when we play set or match with my hitting partner. Usually it's quite decent amount of money. The money from your coach is the sweetest money, you know. (Laughter.)

One time I lost 5,000, yeah, and another time -- last time actually I won it. To see how pissed my hitting partner was, it was amazing feeling. And honestly, it just help to kind of, like, try to bring my matches' pressure on the practice court and try to work through it, you know. I think that's really cool thing. Especially when you winning this money and not losing. (Laughter.)

So, yeah, we just try to, how to say, simulate the matches' pressure on the practice court.

Q. It's not every day that Roger Federer is in the stands when you're playing in a slam. Did you know that he was up in the stands? For a second did your mind wander to that?

ARYNA SABALENKA: Yeah, I saw, I saw him there, saw him on the big screen.

I mean, I'm pretty sure he came to watch Tiafoe and Dimitrov, but still, I was like, okay, I have to play my best tennis so he enjoy it. I have to show my skills, you know, slice skills, come to the net and all that staff. (Laughter.) Yeah, that was nice moment. Nice to see him around.