MIAMI OPEN PRESENTED BY ITAú

March 24, 2025

Aryna Sabalenka

Press Conference

A. SABALENKA/D. Collins

6-4, 6-4

THE MODERATOR: It must feel good to get that win against Danielle under your belt in two sets.

ARYNA SABALENKA: Yeah, I'm super happy to get this win in straight sets and happy with the level I played today.

She's a tough opponent, and we had a lot of tough and tricky matches in the past. So was very happy to get through this match.

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. Hi, Aryna. It looked like your serve was working really well today. I'm curious, how was that feeling for you out there, and is that a shot that you've been particularly working on?

ARYNA SABALENKA: Yeah, I would say that at the Australian Open I was serving not very good, so after the Open, we were working a lot on my serve to get back the shot, to get back on track with the serve.

I'm super happy with the way I'm serving right now, and I think against Danielle I served really smart. At some moment I was just going as hard as possible, and I was making those faces, but mostly I think it was pretty smart serving from me. Yeah, I'm happy to see my serve back.

Q. The Stadium was quite quiet. I know it's a Monday and everything, but one of the top players in the world against the defending champion on Stadium Court. It seemed a little quiet. Was that disappointing, or do you not expect that?

ARYNA SABALENKA: It's okay. I think at the end people were really cheering us up, and I think it was quite loud at the end, but I don't know what to say. I enjoyed the atmosphere out there.

At the beginning maybe it was not that much people. Maybe people were kind of, like, chilling after Alexander match and then they get back on the Stadium I think in the middle of the first set. So I think the atmosphere was great.

Q. The reset post-Indian Wells, how is it different than the post-Australia reset that you have gone through?

ARYNA SABALENKA: I mean, Australia was very hurtful, very tough one. Indian Wells, I mean, it was just I believe not my day. Me and my team, we know what happened there, what I was struggling with.

I didn't have that much time to be depressed or anything. I was straight back to practice on the next day. I'm here in Miami, so I already forgot what happened there.

It was her moment. I'm happy for her, and I really hope that in the future in the finals I will be a better player.

Q. Is that more helpful to have a tournament come right after it to sort of -- you don't really have a choice?

ARYNA SABALENKA: I would say I wouldn't play anything after a Slam final, but after 1000 event, it's quite helpful. You know, you should have this short memory, and you kind of, like, forget it quicker if you have something coming up next.

Q. I seriously can't remember if I have asked you this. It's about No. 1.

ARYNA SABALENKA: Okay.

Q. How much do you enjoy being in that position? Can you feel extra pressure? Is there any sort of feeling of it's a bit of a burden being No. 1, or is it just so great to be there?

ARYNA SABALENKA: Well, I think I am where I'm supposed to be, and I'm super happy to see myself in this position because I worked -- I never say that, but I worked really hard to get where I am right now. It's not pressure for me. It's really enjoyable to be in this position.

Let's say that being an athlete, it's already a lot of pressure. I'm focusing on myself, not on, like, the pressure moments. I think if you are willing to focus on yourself and focus on improving yourself, there is no such thing as pressure. Like, pressure is, you know -- like the US Open they have a sign, "Pressure is a privilege." I take it that way.

Q. I know that you live in Miami. I'm curious, how does your day-to-day routine change when you are at a tournament? Is there ever pros and cons, arranging your own cars, doing your own laundry, these type of things?

ARYNA SABALENKA: I love it. I love to stay home. As you said, it's really nice to do my laundry. I can do it any time. Not like I have to wait a day. And, also, driving my car and once again, going at home, going to my favorite places, and be in this kind of not, like, chill environment, but cozy and comfy environment.

It's pretty cool, and I'm happy. I'm happy I have a house here and I'm based here so I can feel this atmosphere during the tournament.