DUBAI DUTY FREE TENNIS CHAMPIONSHIPS

February 13, 2022

Aryna Sabalenka

Dubai Duty Free Tennis Stadium

Press Conference

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. How do you feel entering this tournament? How do you feel about your game?

ARYNA SABALENKA: I feel good. Feel ready to go. Can't wait to start playing here.

Q. What did you do after Australia to kind of reset? It was a tricky trip for you. Every single match was a battle. How did you deal with that after?

ARYNA SABALENKA: Yeah, it was tough. Tough matches in Australia. Yeah, I just had few days off, spend some time with my family, went for a good dinners. Yeah, just reset and go and start practicing.

I was thinking to play St. Petersburg, but then I would play like three tournaments in the row, then fly from there to here. It's a little bit tricky as well. I decide to kind of reset and start from the beginning.

Q. You've been here twice in the quarterfinals. What are your goals that you set for yourself this year? Who do you think will be your biggest challenge?

ARYNA SABALENKA: Well, after the beginning of the season I would say that the goal is to find the consistency in my game, just find the rhythm back. I don't know, right now every match for me is a battle. Tough to say (smiling).

Q. If there is one thing you would like to improve in your game, what would that be?

ARYNA SABALENKA: For the moment I don't want to say exactly what I want to improve (laughter). I think I should use -- I should go in the net more.

Q. Your last couple of seasons we've seen you getting knocked out after the quarterfinals. Any change in strategy coming into this year's tournament?

ARYNA SABALENKA: Not really actually. I just want to stay the same.

Q. Do you find having the fans here this year and everything back to full capacity, also the city itself, will that help bring up the motivation?

ARYNA SABALENKA: Of course, it's so much better. Having fans back, it's something amazing. I would say it's something that we all missed. I'm really, really happy to have them back. Can't wait to feel the atmosphere on the court.