PORSCHE TENNIS GRAND PRIX

April 22, 2023

Aryna Sabalenka

Press Conference

A. SABALENKA/A. Potapova

6-1, 6-2

THE MODERATOR: Aryna, you're into your third straight final here in Stuttgart. Just talk about what this tournament means to you and how much you enjoy playing at this venue.

ARYNA SABALENKA: Yeah, I'm really enjoying playing here, Stuttgart, and this tournament means a lot for me. Hopefully for the third try I'll be able to win this tournament (smiling).

THE MODERATOR: Questions.

Q. I think you played your best tennis. Do you feel for tomorrow as a top favorite, whether it goes against Swiatek or Jabeur?

ARYNA SABALENKA: I don't know about the best game, but, I mean, I try my best today. Yeah, I think I played really great tennis today.

About tomorrow, I don't think about like who is the favorite, because three of us is top-10 players, and everyone can beat everyone, you know, so it's not about that. It's about how you be ready for all these challenges and for a tough fight.

Q. Knowing both of them from the previous games, do you already have a plan in your head for whoever you're going to play tomorrow? How would that look like? I'm not saying can you give me a tactic, but do you even think about it already?

ARYNA SABALENKA: I don't know. I will think about that when they finish their match.

But, yeah, I played a lot of matches against each of them. We're gonna watch their match later on with my coach and prepare my tactic.

But for now, I'm just gonna watch this match and see who I'm gonna face in the final.

Q. Could it be useful, could it be an option to watch last year's final, or has there been too much anyway since then?

ARYNA SABALENKA: I think, yeah, a lot of things change since that final, so I think I better watch this match, yeah, and prepare myself for the final.

Q. Just on today's match, can you just talk through it a little bit in terms of there are going to be people who wake up and see the scoreline and wonder what happened. In your opinion, what happened?

ARYNA SABALENKA: I don't know. I think I was really focused, and I think from the very first point I was playing really aggressive. I didn't give her much time. I think that's why match finish like that quick.

But anyway, she's a great player, and I think in the future she going to be top player. I think I just played too good today. (Laughter.)

Q. It's okay, you can say it, it's fine (smiling). Speaking obviously to the matchup against either Ons or Iga, you have a lot of experience against each of them, and they both are very unique players, like not a lot of players play like either of them on tour. Can you talk about the different challenge it is playing Ons versus playing Iga?

ARYNA SABALENKA: I think, yeah, it's two different challenges. For example, against Ons, I will face a lot of slices, a lot of dropshots, a lot of balls coming back and with the different spin. So that's going to be a big challenge, especially on the clay, against Ons.

And Iga, she's a great player, she's No. 1 and playing, I would say, aggressive tennis and fighting for every point and playing really aggressively, I would say, and moving well.

So it's two different challenges. Yeah, I'm really looking forward for whatever gonna be tomorrow, whoever will be in the final (smiling).

Q. So about your today's game, as we already saw, it wasn't very long. Does it help you for tomorrow's regeneration that you already finished, it was pretty short, and the girls are already playing maybe a long game?

ARYNA SABALENKA: I mean, yeah, it's always better to finish faster and like finish in two sets. You have more time for recovery, for recharge, and for preparation for the next game. So I think it's help me.

Q. It seems that you put also a little bit effort in while that people, that the crowd likes you, that you care about and don't want it be the other way around. Is that right?

ARYNA SABALENKA: Yeah, I mean, of course it's always nicer to play when people are supporting you than they against you (smiling). I really enjoy playing in front of people here.

I felt the support, and I felt amazing atmosphere. Yeah, really enjoy playing in front of people here.

Q. Can you tell us anything about your car situation? Do you have one, do you need one, would you need one, could you get it into your home country if you win the Porsche?

ARYNA SABALENKA: I mean, I do have a couple of cars, my mom drives them, BMW. But I really want to get Porsche. So that's a big motivation for me. (Laughing.)

Q. Monday or Tuesday we talked about the hate you feel during the tournaments. Now in Stuttgart, do you feel any hate against you?

ARYNA SABALENKA: From people or...

Q. From people.

ARYNA SABALENKA: No, no, I don't feel it right now. I feel a lot of support, and I don't feel so much hate here in Stuttgart.

Q. Can you tell us a little bit about the staff that is with you here in Stuttgart? Before on court you spoke of some friends and a kid that is here. Can you tell us more details?

ARYNA SABALENKA: Yeah, I have my coach, my hitting partner, and family of my hitting partner. His wife is a good friend of mine. And, yeah, their kid as well here with them. I'm a godmother of their kid, so I always call her my daughter.

Yeah, I have my boyfriend here with me. So I have amazing support here in Stuttgart with me.

Q. Last year you played in final. If you compare your tennis before, the year and right now, what change? What do you think?

ARYNA SABALENKA: I mean, I think it's two different players. Last year I was struggling a lot with a lot of things, especially my serve. This year I feel like a different player, different person right now.

So I feel I'm much calmer on court. I'm serving better. Yeah, I think it's two different players.