THE CHAMPIONSHIPS

July 10, 2025

Aryna Sabalenka

Press Conference

A. ANISIMOVA/A. Sabalenka

6-4, 4-6, 6-4

ARYNA SABALENKA: Are you guys waiting for something? You're not going to see Roland Garros press conference, so anyone who was waiting for that, you can leave right now (laughter).

THE MODERATOR: Aryna, tough defeat for you today. Give us your thoughts on that match.

ARYNA SABALENKA: Okay, yeah, I mean, she was the better player (laughter). What? But that's true, guys.

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. You say we're not going to see a Roland Garros press conference, I understand that. How does the feeling after the match compare to the feeling after that match and what went on out there?

ARYNA SABALENKA: I mean, losing sucks, you know? You always feel like you want to die, you don't want to exist anymore, and this is the end of your life.

But then you sit there a little bit, and you think about what you could have done differently on the match. I mean, you see stuff where you wasn't at your best in the match. You see that the other player perform much better. You kind of, like, can see things better.

But the first moment always the worst one because every time you compete at that tournament, and you get to the last stages, you think that you're getting close to your dream. Then you lose the match, and you feel like, okay, this is the end.

Q. What specifically do you wish you could have done better today? A lot of players say it's so rare that you play your best. In those moments where you're not playing your best, are there things you wish you could have done?

ARYNA SABALENKA: I think it's obviously that today returning game was much worse. Like, my returns were much worse compared to the matches before.

I don't know. I mean, I have to say that I did my best. I gave everything I had at the moment. Okay, return game didn't work well. I still came back. I still had chances. Then the last game I didn't serve. I mean, I did serve, but she just smashed my serves.

I have to say that she was more brave today. Maybe when I was just, like, trying to stay in the point, she was, like, going for all -- she was playing more aggressive. Sometimes I was just stopping my arms, making like mistakes which I shouldn't be making.

I think I should have been a little bit more brave today and remember that I'm on the top of the ranking, and I can do that. I think at some point at the match I forgot about that.

Q. It might be hard to see it right now, but do you think this experience will make you a better Wimbledon champion in the future?

ARYNA SABALENKA: It's tough, like you said, to think about that, but I really hope so. I lost three semis, three tough ones. Then I was banned from playing. Then I was injured. So I have really more of a hate relationship right now with Wimbledon, but I really hope that one day I will, yeah, turn it around and have love relationship.

Of course, if one day I'm going to be able to win it, of course, I'm going to look back on all of these tough losses and think that I still did it.

Yeah, now it's tough, but I never give up, and I'm going to come back stronger, for sure.

Q. One point in the second set, she celebrated before the ball went past you. You looked at the umpire. Did you think that was a hindrance issue?

ARYNA SABALENKA: Say it again. Which point?

Q. You hit backhand winner. She celebrated, and you were still chasing the ball.

ARYNA SABALENKA: Yeah, I was just trying to chase the ball. Yeah, she was already celebrating it. I was, like, I mean, that's a bit too early. Then she kind of pissed me off saying that, oh, that's what she does all the time.

I was grateful that she actually said that because I was, like, it's actually help me to keep fighting. I'm like, okay, now I'm going to show you the tennis. So I came back because I got really angry in that moment.

So probably in the third set I should have, like, remembered, and you know, probably will help. It is what it is.

Q. Amanda has had a good record against you before. What is it about her game that is so tough for you even as No. 1?

ARYNA SABALENKA: I mean, she's aggressive player. Yeah, I mean, I think all of the matches we played, they all been, like, really tight and close. I know what I have to do against her, but I have to say the grass doesn't really help to do things that gonna destroy her game.

But yeah, I think all the matches is close. Doesn't matter, she leads, what, 5-3, 6-3 now? For me, it's nothing, to be honest, because they were all close.

Going into the match against her, I don't think, Oh, my God, she has a good record. Record is nothing. I've been winning matches against her. She was winning matches. It's all about the momentum. If you're there, if you're fighting, and if you're doing the right thing.

Q. It looked like a couple of the fans collapsed from the heat today. What happened from your perspective? Did the interruptions affect your play?

ARYNA SABALENKA: I mean, it definitely didn't interrupt the play. I think I feel like London is not ready for this weather. It was super hot.

I can't even imagine sitting in one place and the sun, like, just constantly hitting on you. You got to be really prepared, stay hydrated. It can happen to everyone.

I just hope they feel better. It just didn't interrupt in any ways. I was able to play my game no matter. Doesn't matter, like, how long the pause was. I just hope they feel better.

Q. You've spoken through this tournament about things you've learned from the French Open experience. What from that has helped you right now to be so philosophical about this defeat?

ARYNA SABALENKA: I just don't want to face that hate again (smiling).

No, I mean, we all people. We all can lose control over our emotions. It's absolutely normal. Every time when I was really that close in that match today to completely lose it and start... I don't know... yelling, screaming, smashing the racquets, I keep reminding myself that's not an option, and it's not going to help me to stay in the match and to fight for my dream.

Even right now I took a bit more time before doing my media just so I can be Aryna, not that crazy person that been on that media day at Roland Garros.

Q. There's another point that you seemed frustrated at where the ball hit the net, dropped over. Instead of saying sorry, it looked like she celebrated the point. What was your view on that?

ARYNA SABALENKA: I just look at her and, I mean, for sure she didn't hear me. I was like, You don't want to say sorry? She just wanted, I guess, badly to win this match.

It's on her. If she doesn't feel like saying sorry, like she barely got that point and she didn't feel like saying sorry for that tricky situation, that's on her.

Q. Obviously you've had an incredible year, best player in the world, but these three really rough defeats at the latter stages of slams -- there's one more to go. How would you assess your year given that kind of tension between the two things?

ARYNA SABALENKA: Well, I think that's impressive. I'm already qualified for Riyadh. We are just in the middle. Maybe not really in the middle, but kind of like in the middle of the season. I already qualified. Never happened before.

I think even though I lost a lot of finals, I lost tough matches at the slams this year, I still think that the consistency I was able to bring till this moment, it's impressive. Still a lot of things to be proud of. This experience shows that next year I'm only hungrier and angrier. These tough defeats help me to come back much stronger.

I have huge hopes for the next year (smiling).

Q. Obviously each tough defeat was very different. Do you find any similarities or links between what you did in those matches that you can maybe change for the next time?

ARYNA SABALENKA: Maybe you have something in mind? Because, as you see, three times I lost and seems like I'm not learning anything. Can you help me (smiling)?

Q. You're more composed today than in the French Open, let's say.

ARYNA SABALENKA: What?

Q. You are more composed today. It was much closer in the final stages.

ARYNA SABALENKA: Yeah, I don't know. I think I just have to constantly in those matches reminding myself, like, how strong I am and remember I have to be the brave one, I have to go for my shots. I don't have to stop my arms. I have to be confident in my shots, in my decisions, just trust myself.

It seems like in all of these three, three tough defeats on the slams, for me it seems like I wasn't trusting myself. Every time when I remind myself you have to trust, you can do literally anything on the court, every time I show my best tennis.

I think maybe US Open left, I have to just trust myself and go for it.

Ha-ha-ha, you didn't get anything (sticking her tongue out).