PORSCHE TENNIS GRAND PRIX

April 15, 2025

Aryna Sabalenka

Press Conference

THE MODERATOR: Aryna, welcome back to Stuttgart. How does it feel to be here? And how has your preparation been going so far?

ARYNA SABALENKA: Yeah, I'm happy to be back. I feel good and can't wait to start playing on clay (smiling).

THE MODERATOR: Questions.

Q. A question about the draw, because we know that you're not going to play your second round because Potapova withdrew. There is this, I don't know, weird situation where you're not going to play until Saturday. This is a bit long. Is that important in terms of the scheduling or the practice situation?

ARYNA SABALENKA: Yeah, that's a bit awkward, but I was worried if everything is okay with her, so I messaged her and I figure out the situation.

I was, like, What are you doing to me? My next match is on Saturday (smiling).

Yeah, that's a bit awkward, but yeah, we adjusted a little bit of practice schedule, and I guess that's gym time for me (smiling).

Q. It's only April, but already I think you have been in four finals, you've won two titles. Is this the best start you have ever had to a season?

ARYNA SABALENKA: I think winning Australian Open was a better start for me in the previous years. That's definitely a great start for finals. I mean, I cannot complain. But of course I could do a little bit better in those two finals I lost.

Q. Can I ask about Grand Slams? You have won Australia. You have won U.S. What do you think would be the more difficult of the other two? Is Roland Garros more difficult for you or Wimbledon?

ARYNA SABALENKA: I mean, how can we compare these two completely different surfaces? But both of them are pretty tough to win. But probably physically will be tougher -- mentally/physically will be tougher, Roland Garros. But that's my goal, and I'm working really hard and hopefully I can achieve that goal.

Q. I remember last year when you got injured before Wimbledon, that was probably your first injury, the first time you had to retire.

ARYNA SABALENKA: Yeah.

Q. Are you surprised how you have done so far from coming back? I don't remember exactly the number of the final titles, but it's been a lot. You have been very consistent. Do you expect that?

ARYNA SABALENKA: Well, honestly my injury wasn't the injury I was out, like, for six months. It wasn't like that. I was out for, what, Wimbledon and then I was back. Basically I skipped only one tournament, so it wasn't like that big time off, I'd say. So I'm not really surprised that my comeback was much easier if we compare it to other injuries of other players.

But, yeah, it's been a decent time since that, and I'm proud of myself, of course. Yeah, it was very good comeback.

Q. You have been to the finals here in Stuttgart three times, but you did not win the title. Did you keep that in mind? Is it a kind of extra motivation to come here this year and to finally get the last step?

ARYNA SABALENKA: Yeah, you know, I lost three finals against World No. 1s. So I was, like, Okay, I have to do it. I have to come back here as World No. 1. Maybe that's the deal (smiling).

I don't know. But of course I have it in mind. It was three tough matches. I'll keep it in mind as a motivation. If I make it to the finals, I'll be hungry as never, and I'll be focused as never before.

Q. Pretty much all your videos on Instagram hit a million views. It's a great job. Congratulations.

ARYNA SABALENKA: Oh, my God. Thank you.

Q. Do you manage your profile yourself? Is that something what you want to do in the future alongside tennis?

ARYNA SABALENKA: What a question (smiling).

Well, I mean, obviously all of the pictures and videos, it's taken by me. I just have a team who helps to put it all together just so I don't spend like hours, because before, maybe a year ago or a little bit more than that, actually I think a year ago, I would do the videos, like, put the videos together by myself and it takes a lot of time. I just didn't want to keep doing that.

Yeah, I have a team who helped me with that. I don't know. I'm more into fashion world than being an influencer, but I think these two worlds crosses. So maybe (smiling).

Q. The top players have written to the Grand Slams saying they think they should pay more prize money. Do you agree with that?

ARYNA SABALENKA: Yes, I do. I think we deserve to get a bit bigger percentage. And, yeah, I agree with that, because I think all of us, top players, all of the players, we bring the show. I think we deserve to be paid a little bit more.

Q. And it's a problem, because the percentage is smaller at the Grand Slams than at WTA tournaments? That's what you feel, is it?

ARYNA SABALENKA: Well, I would say that if we compare tennis to the rest of the sports, like, it's a huge difference in percentage we are receiving compared to NHL or NBA and the rest of the sports.

I think we are individual sport, and we are -- I can't compare sports, so I don't want to go that far, but I'd say we definitely deserve a bigger percentage on the Grand Slams. I mean, on all of the tournaments.