MIAMI OPEN PRESENTED BY ITAú

March 20, 2025

Aryna Sabalenka

Press Conference

A. SABALENKA/V. Tomova

6-3, 6-0

THE MODERATOR: Congrats on the win. How does it feel to get that one under your belt?

ARYNA SABALENKA: Yeah, I'm super happy to get this win. A bit tricky with the conditions, and I didn't have much time to adjust. Yeah, just happy with the performance today.

THE MODERATOR: Questions.

Q. Can you describe what were the conditions? You said it took a while to adjust to it. What were the conditions? Also, just your mindset as the No. 1, do you always feel like everyone is sort of gunning for you when you enter a tournament? Is there any more pressure?

ARYNA SABALENKA: Well, first of all, it's different balls here than -- I don't know. I feel like it's a bit slower here, probably because of the balls, everything, it's much heavier on the body.

Then it was windy. It was a bit like different stadium. It's just like everything new, and I had few days to adjust.

That was a bit tricky, but I think I handled pretty well. So happy to get through.

I kind of forget. What else did you ask?

Oh, yeah, as a top player. I don't know. Doesn't matter the ranking. Anyone, everyone wants to, you know, like, win a match, so it doesn't matter the ranking.

So I'm just focusing on myself and trying to bring the best tennis possible and, yeah, and hope for the best (smiling).

Q. You talk a lot about revenge in losses. You did it with Madison. You want to get it with Andreeva. Do you remember the last time you played this young lady? Do you remember?

ARYNA SABALENKA: I don't remember. Honestly with the team, we spoke before the match, of course, and we thought like I never faced her before. That's how bad we are, probably.

Q. She beat you when you were 16.

ARYNA SABALENKA: Really? Where was that?

Q. I don't remember that, but I looked it up earlier today. 16.

ARYNA SABALENKA: Well, I'm pretty good with revenges then (smiling).

But, yeah, oh, my God, it was so long ago. Well, I'm happy to answer it now with the win and with the revenge, of course.

Q. I just asked Coco the same question, but there has been quite a lot of drama in the sport in the last couple of days with the lawsuit by the PTPA. Do you have any thoughts on that? Also, what is your one wish for the sport if the result of these lawsuits could solve something that you want changed in this sport?

ARYNA SABALENKA: Well, honestly, I didn't have much time to look into information, because I just didn't want to dig into it because I'm trying to focus on my tennis, and I didn't want to be upset or anything about the situation.

But if, I mean, something I would like to see is definitely maybe not like only WTA players but all of the players getting probably more percentage out of money they making on the tournaments and the slams, especially?

I think that's fair enough. And if we look at other sports, like, the percentage goes a bit like differently, so I think that's the only wish I have.

Q. Coco said the same thing.

ARYNA SABALENKA: Oh, you see? We just spoke before. (Laughter.)

No, we didn't. Just to make it clear (smiling).

Q. This is a question I asked to several players that when you won the coin toss before the match starts, do you have any preference, like serve or receive and the side you receive?

ARYNA SABALENKA: I don't know. I think it's something like a habit mostly, and I always go for the serve.

But I don't care if they win and pick serving. I'm, like, okay, I will try to break and then I have advantage.