PORSCHE TENNIS GRAND PRIX

April 21, 2023

Aryna Sabalenka

Press Conference

A. SABALENKA/P. Badosa

4-6, 6-4, 6-4

THE MODERATOR: Aryna, that was a great comeback today and a great match. Just talk us through firstly how you came back into the match in that second set.

ARYNA SABALENKA: Yeah, I'm super happy with the win. I don't know. Somehow I was able to turn around this crazy match.

Yeah, just super happy with the win. I think it was a great level out there. Yeah.

THE MODERATOR: Questions.

Q. Watching the match from the stands, it looks like probably the moment everything change was when 3-4 down in the second set, you started to put bigger and better returns on court. Do you felt it was this aspect or would you say something different?

ARYNA SABALENKA: I mean, yeah, that felt I think that game was the key game in the set. I don't know. I felt like I start feeling a little bit better on court, like having a better rhythm. Then there was like think that there is nothing to lose.

I was just talking to myself and saying, okay, just try one more time, just try to put the ball back, and then run and move and try to win this game and probably you can win this set. Then who knows what's gonna happen in the third set?

But yeah, definitely that game was the key game.

Q. Is it your best tennis you play at the moment?

ARYNA SABALENKA: I don't know (smiling). I didn't think about that. I mean, I think I'm playing good tennis, but there is so many things to improve and to get better. I know that I can show better tennis than I'm showing right now.

Q. How do you motivate yourself on the court?

ARYNA SABALENKA: I don't know. I love this sport. I don't need the motivation. I just really want to do well and to win (smiling).

Q. The start of this year, you talked a lot about staying calm. That was the key to being able to access the best tennis that we saw particularly in Australia. Obviously it's easy to stay calm maybe at the start of the season when the energy levels are high and everything. How has it been, how have you been able to maintain that? Has it been more of a struggle in the last month and a half or so?

ARYNA SABALENKA: I think it's easier to stay calm when everything kind of working well to you. And even if you're like down in a break, you're feeling your best and you know that you can come back any time.

So I would say that the first two tournaments it was easier to stay calm. Then I was a little bit struggle with that, but I think even when something is not working well, I still have this understanding that if I'm going to get crazy it's not going to help me. Sometimes I can overreact on some things, but overall I think I'm doing well.

Today was so many times when I was about to just like throw the racquet somewhere and just say, Okay, I'm done.

But I don't know. I handled myself pretty good. Yeah, super happy with that.

Q. You played Paula, who is your friend. When do you go back to friendship mode after such a match? Is it tonight when you message each other? At the next tournament?

ARYNA SABALENKA: I mean, we already had some conversation straight after the match. Then right now in the lunch, we spoke a little bit, planned our lunch or dinner Madrid. We're good, we're good (smiling).

Q. I got to know your boyfriend is with you. How important is it for you that he's here in Stuttgart?

ARYNA SABALENKA: I mean, yeah, his support is very important. Couple of times today on the match I was looking at him, and I saw him being very nervous.

I was, like, No, I have to win this one. I don't want see him, I don't know, sad and thinking that it's his fault that I lost because he came (smiling).

So I was just like pushing myself even harder to win this match.

Q. In the last two years you were in the finals here in Stuttgart. Is it some kind of special motivation for you to win the title this year, or do you feel some pressure because now it's just two more steps to go?

ARYNA SABALENKA: I would say that Stuttgart is on my goals list, you know, so I really want to win this tournament. But there is two more steps and two more really tough matches. I just want to focus on my game and focus on things I have to do on court to make it more real to win the car.

Q. You had yesterday a free day between matches. How was your day? It's helpful for you to have a free day or it's not always, maybe it doesn't matter?

ARYNA SABALENKA: No, I like when it's one extra, one more extra day for recovery and days like really easy. I had one practice and a lunch, and you just, I don't know, watching movies, going for walk, you know, kind of trying to bring yourself together, prepare yourself for the match.

So I really like an extra day.

Q. Maybe yesterday you was in Stuttgart in city or just in hotel?

ARYNA SABALENKA: I was here in the hotel. I just went to the grocery (smiling). That's everything I need: food and hotel. (Laughter.)

Q. We don't know who you'll play, but if it is a rematch with Caroline, which was obviously the final in Fort Worth at the end of the year, what is the challenge of playing her? What did you learn maybe in that match that you think might apply if you play her?

ARYNA SABALENKA: Yeah, I just have to focus on myself and don't look at her where she stand on the return, because that's just ridiculous (smiling).

I think the first matches I played last season against her I was just surprised, and I was, like, getting -- I was still struggling with my serve, and I was like watching her staying so close.

On that match in the Finals, I wasn't really looking at her. I was just focusing on myself, on my serve, what I have to do.

Yeah, I had some chances in that match, so I just, yeah, I just have to focus on myself and just ignore whatever she's doing on court. Just play my best tennis.

Q. A random question, but why does it mean so much to you to win a Porsche? I mean, you could buy a Porsche, I think.

ARYNA SABALENKA: I don't know. It's cooler to win it than buy it, you know. I like free stuff, you know. (Laughter.)

Q. What do you like most on Porsche, to drive a Porsche? What do you like most?

ARYNA SABALENKA: The speed.

Q. The speed?

ARYNA SABALENKA: Yeah.

Q. You have driving license?

ARYNA SABALENKA: Yes. Yes, I do have.