AUSTRALIAN OPEN

January 10, 2025

Aryna Sabalenka

Press Conference

THE MODERATOR: Aryna, we welcome back our defending champion. Talk a little bit about the start to your season and the great result in Brisbane last week.

ARYNA SABALENKA: Yeah, I'm happy with the start of the season. Can't complain. Just super happy to be back in Melbourne.

Yeah, excited to start playing my first match.

THE MODERATOR: Questions.

Q. It's so long since you've lost a Grand Slam match on a hard court. Is there a feeling of invincibility?

ARYNA SABALENKA: I haven't think about that actually. But, yeah, it's been a while.

I'm not thinking about that kind of stuff. I'm just focusing on myself, trying to improve myself every day, and really hoping that I can continue doing what I'm doing on the Grand Slams.

Q. How much does the successful attempt to defend the title here last year help you this year in terms of another title defense? What were the keys that you take from that? Or is it slate clean, doesn't matter?

ARYNA SABALENKA: I don't know. Honestly I think every year it's something different, different experience. The way you feel is different.

I just remember that last year I wasn't thinking at all about being defending champion. I was just taking it step by step. I think that was the key basically.

So this year I'm just going to be the same. I'll just try to take it step by step, do my best. Hopefully I'll be able to hold this beautiful trophy one more time.

Q. The toughest thing about playing you, how hard it is to play you, what do you think is the most intimidating thing about playing you, your biggest weapons?

ARYNA SABALENKA: My biggest weapon? I don't know. I think my power probably. Power and the way I'm fighting, probably that I never give up. You always have to finish the match.

But main one probably power and fight spirit. I would say I'll leave it like that.

Q. Has that changed, the level of fighting spirit?

ARYNA SABALENKA: Is it changed?

Q. Has that always, or has that always been there in your game?

ARYNA SABALENKA: I think I always been that way, but lately I managed to put even more pressure on my opponent and kind of, like, not giving up even when the situation is really, I don't know, bad for me. I think you always can improve that thing.

Q. You're well aware you can join some legends of the sport by winning a third straight title hire. Are you into your tennis territory? Do you read about days gone by, classic matches, or watch videos?

ARYNA SABALENKA: Like not I'm reading it every day the tennis history. It's enough tennis in my life (laughter). Of course, I know that I have possibility of joining legends by winning three times in a row.

Once again, I don't want to overthink about that. I just want to do my job. Hopefully by the end of this tournament I'll be super proud of myself and I'll be able to put my name in the history.

Q. I saw the Harper's Bazaar video that you did. You talked in it about how much you love your life, and you wouldn't switch with anybody. Some players that have got to the top talk about that being really hard, that feeling of being chased, it being harder chasing for the top than actually being at the top. You seem to wear that pretty lightly. Are there moments when that's hard? Does it come sort of naturally as it seems?

ARYNA SABALENKA: I think we all different. But for me, just always been something about my character. I always liked to compete. I always liked to accept, like, really tough challenges.

For me being the one to chase, I mean, I don't know, I like it. I like that feeling. That's what drives me and help me to stay motivated because I know that I have target on my back. I really like to have it. That's why I work really hard, make sure that nobody can gets to me.

Oh, my God, it sounds too cocky, isn't it (laughter)?

Q. How was the experience of being No. 1 this time around different than last year? Did you sort of accept it in a different way, approach it in a different way, think about it differently?

ARYNA SABALENKA: Well, yeah, last time I was No. 1 for a week probably (smiling). It wasn't really big thing.

I don't know. Just the ranking, you know? At some point you're not really focusing on that and you're really focusing on yourself. That's I guess my approach. It's not about the ranking. You still have to go out there. You still have to compete. You still have to prove it every day, that you deserve to be where you are.

Q. Playing Sloane Stephens, another former major winner. What are your thoughts on playing her? She hasn't won a lot of matches lately, but obviously has been very good.

ARYNA SABALENKA: We had great battles in the past. I think right now she kind of like in the mode of nothing to lose. She can play really great tennis. I expect a great battle.

Yeah, looking forward to facing her again.

Q. What would you say is the biggest thing that changed for you by winning your first Grand Slam title here a couple years ago?

ARYNA SABALENKA: I think, like, mindset changed a lot. Approach to the slams is different. Priorities are different. I would say that mentally I changed a lot. I have that understanding that, Okay, I got it, I know how to do that. I know how to separate on-court and off-court life. Before an extra day off would be too much for me because I would overthink about the upcoming match.

Nowadays, I really play my match, I do my best, and I completely, I don't know, trying to forget about tennis. The next day I just have my hit. The rest of the day I try to go for a good dinner, relax, not really thinking about tennis.

So yeah.