AUSTRALIAN OPEN

January 17, 2025

Aryna Sabalenka

Press Conference

A. SABALENKA/C. Tauson

7-6, 6-4

THE MODERATOR: Aryna, straight sets today, but certainly a tough match for you. Talk us through your thoughts.

ARYNA SABALENKA: Yeah, yeah, it was definitely really tough match. She played incredible tennis. I really had to put it all together to get that win. I'd say mentally mostly. I'm really glad that I was able to fight no matter what.

Super happy with this win.

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. Obviously Clara Tauson put up a fight today. She's still only 22. What do you think of her level? Do you think she has the potential to win a Grand Slam at some point?

ARYNA SABALENKA: I mean, I'm not sure about the Grand Slam. But as we see on WTA Tour, anyone can win it. But she's definitely top-10 player. She played incredible tennis, served well, hit pretty heavy balls.

Yeah, she put me under pressure. She played really great tennis under pressure, as well. It was great level from her. If she's going to continue working, improving herself, playing the way she played today, of course, she's going to be there.

Q. Last year we saw a bit of an impromptu ritual start with each passing round. Signing Jason's head, and again at the US Open with the tiger fake tattoo on his head.

ARYNA SABALENKA: But it was only on the final.

Q. I noticed his head is blank this time. Is there any possibility we'll see something going forward?

ARYNA SABALENKA: I don't know (laughter). Honestly, with our team, it's not like we're thinking and we're, I don't know, trying to find something. It just like comes naturally.

I don't know. If it's going to happen, it's going to happen. We had my signature there. We had my tattoo there. I don't know. We need to come up with something cool, you know?

Q. Do you have any ideas?

ARYNA SABALENKA: Nothing yet (smiling).

Q. You said on court that you were thinking about how tough you are. How much tougher do you feel now compared to a few years ago? What has made you so tough?

ARYNA SABALENKA: Well, I mean, yeah, during this match, I was thinking, Oh, my God, I'm really tough. It was so many really tough situations. I was just staying there. I was trying to put her under pressure. I was trying really hard.

Yeah, I was thinking like, Wow, that's tough.

Yeah, I mean, over the years, I struggle a lot with different stuff. I think all of those difficult experiences make me really, really tough, tough person.

Q. Today against Tauson was your 20th match at Rod Laver Arena. You've won 18 of them, 17 in a row. Of the two losses against Serena and Ash in your first match here, you nearly won them as well. I'm not sure if you know going onto Rod Laver when you play how dominant you are. Do you take that into matches in the back of your mind? What makes you play so well on that court?

ARYNA SABALENKA: Well, definitely the atmosphere helps me a lot here. I'd say that I gained, I don't know, my people here throughout the years. Now every time I'm out there, I really feel all the support. It's amazing. It's a dream. That's why probably I'm so motivated every time I'm out there.

Honestly, the statistics is incredible. It's like, Wow. If someone would tell me five years ago that I'll get to this point, I'd be like, Okay, whatever, let's just take it one step at a time.

It's not like knowing that statistic going to help me to keep winning. I still have to go there. I still have to, as you see, fight for every point. I have to bring my best tennis. If not best tennis, then best fight spirit.

I just take it one step at a time. I'm trying to focus on myself.

Q. About Tauson, before the match she said she admired you on TikTok, also admired your power.

ARYNA SABALENKA: Okay (laughter).

Q. It's a tennis question. No worries. How do you think she coped with the speed of your strokes, because she's really excited to see how she coped on the forehand side especially?

ARYNA SABALENKA: I'd have to say she has pretty good technique. I was hitting some heavy shots. She has this compact technique. She was just putting it back on me.

Yeah, I think she handle it pretty well.

Q. Obviously you struggled a bit today with your serve. Even a bit more in the first set, less in the second set. Did you change anything between the two sets to be more consistent?

ARYNA SABALENKA: Well, I think winning the first set, it was very difficult set, gave me a little bit more mental strength that I can win this match even without serving my best.

But also, you know, conditions are pretty heavy for servers. It's not giving you that match advantage as usual. Yeah, balls are heavy. Courts are a little bit slower. You just have to sometimes just put that serve in and just play the rally.

Q. Coco mentioned the issue with TikTok previously. I know you are very keen on TikTok, share your dancing moments. I'm not sure you have noticed a new platform, the Red Book. Any plans to share your life with new account in Red?

ARYNA SABALENKA: I didn't get this question.

THE MODERATOR: Maybe the TikTok ban in America, that it could be banned. Maybe...

ARYNA SABALENKA: Maybe, yes. We have no control over that situation. I mean, there is way to enter those social medias even if it's banned, so...

Q. Just talking about mentality, what keeps you motivated on court in a tough match like that? Is it the mood of the crowd, self-talk?

ARYNA SABALENKA: Honestly, it's a combination of everything. I just reminding myself about how strong I am, how much I wanted it when I was a kid. Even right now. Then I look in the box. I see all of those people sitting there, cheering me up, helping me to achieve my dreams.

I cannot just give up because there is so many people in my box who is really doing their best. Also, when I hear the support from the crowd, I'm like, C'mon, I cannot give up that easily.

All of these three helping me to stay motivated and keep fighting no matter what.