THE CHAMPIONSHIPS

July 2, 2025

Aryna Sabalenka

Press Conference

A. SABALENKA/M. Bouzkova

7-6, 6-4

THE MODERATOR: Aryna, happy to get another win under your belt?

ARYNA SABALENKA: Yeah, I'm super happy with the win. She's a tough opponent. Yeah, happy to get through this tough match.

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. I think 2020 US Open was the last time you played a major and didn't reach the third round. What is kind of your key to navigating these early stages of Grand Slams?

ARYNA SABALENKA: I missed a little bit, yeah. What was the question?

Q. What is your key to navigating the early stages of a major?

ARYNA SABALENKA: Well, I think mainly I'm just trying to focus on myself. I know that if I'll be focusing on myself and if I'll be there fighting for every point, I know that I have big chances to get through.

Before I would get too nervous, I would think about everything outside of tennis, outside of that court. Nowadays, I'm just trying to play point by point. I'm trying to just think take it one step at a time basically.

Q. When Bouzkova was serving for the first set at 6-5, what was your mindset going into that game?

ARYNA SABALENKA: I was, like, I don't know. Because I couldn't return her serve before that moment. I mean, I got to step in. I have to try to at least put the ball back on that side, just put the return back and try to play the point. Honestly, that's it. I was just trying to put as many balls as I can on that side, put as much pressure as I can on her.

I was super happy that I was able to break her back. In that moment I felt emotional, like really strong. I think that moment helped me to win the first set and to be a bit more free in the second set.

Q. I have a question for you about this year's Wimbledon. We talk a lot about the big upsets, the surprises. You are the No. 1 seed. Is it something that affects you in the game that, yeah, you can never be sure?

ARYNA SABALENKA: Honestly, it is sad to see so many upsets in the tournament, in both actually draws, girls' and men's. It's sad to see.

Honestly, I'm just trying to focus on myself. Of course, I know about all of these upsets. I think it's really important to focus on yourself and to take it one step at a time, do not really look at the draw. This is something what can create a lot of nerves and a lot of doubts and stuff.

I'm just trying to take it one step at a time. As I said earlier, I know if I'm focused, if I'm there, if I'm fighting, I know I'm going to have my chance in each match. I'm just trying to take it one step at a time.

Q. What do you feel like you've added to your game this year that you've been able to show at Wimbledon?

ARYNA SABALENKA: Hmmm... Well, I think my slice got much better. But honestly I wouldn't say that in the first two rounds it was really working well for me. But definitely my game at the net, I feel more confident. These two matches I have to say that my serve is quite decent.

So yeah, I think there is many things that I improved and I hope to see it's working in the next rounds.

Q. It's a dream of many players to play on Centre Court. What are your emotions when you step on this court? Are you super comfortable, just another court, or do you still get your heart thumping? Is the court any different from how it was in the previous years?

ARYNA SABALENKA: It's same beautiful as it's always been. I have to say that it's just so beautiful. Like the moment they open these doors and you step in on the court, you see it's just so beautiful honestly.

In that moment, I'm just trying not to think about that. I'm just trying to focus on what I have to do in the match. But the moment when match is finished...

Right now I have the memory of entering the court. It's amazing. It's like a dream of every player. If someone would tell me that I would be where I am right now, like when I was a kid, I would be like, Yeah, yeah, whatever (smiling). I don't know.

Q. You still get nerves when you enter, that special feeling?

ARYNA SABALENKA: I don't have nerves, I have to say. I mean, we all kind of like feel the pressure, I have to say. These, like, nerves I wouldn't say that I really experience that, which is good. You are able to think more clear. You kind of calm on the court. You control your emotions quite well.

I'm really glad I don't have that like nervous that I used to have when I was like, I don't know, 20 years old.

Q. Iga Swiatek said the grass surface levels the playing field, which is why there are so many upsets at Wimbledon. Do you agree with that?

ARYNA SABALENKA: Can you repeat? What did you say?

THE MODERATOR: The grass levels the playing field. It makes it more even for everybody.

ARYNA SABALENKA: I don't know. It depends honestly. I think grass is definitely for someone who's able to play maybe flat balls and who has a good touch, has a good slice. I think it definitely benefits their games. Whoever is better on clay especially, I think it's quite tricky to deal with grass.

I wouldn't say that it's, like, the level for everyone get the same on the grass. I think it's all about, like, learning how to play on this surface. I think it benefits some of the players who's like more hitting flat and have a slice once again. I'm not sure about that.

But I saw her games, and she's playing great. It seems like she improved her game on the grass since last years. I think, honestly, everyone have a good chance here.

Q. Next up for you either Raducanu or Vondrousova. Talk about each of them. Will you watch that match? How do you and your team go about prepping you for what's to come?

ARYNA SABALENKA: We definitely going to watch the match. It's different situation, you know? I mean, Emma is playing much better tennis since last year, I have to say. She improved. You can see that she's getting back on track. Also facing British at Wimbledon, I'm not sure I prefer that. But she's playing great tennis.

Marketa is also great player on the grass. We just played in Berlin. Also tough opponent.

Both of them are tricky players, tough players to face on grass. So I'm looking forward. Whoever is going to be, I'm ready to go out there and to fight.

Q. It was quite the lineup in the Royal Box today, the celebrities that are there today.

ARYNA SABALENKA: I was trying not to look today. I'm really glad that I wasn't looking there, I would be like this the whole match (laughter). I was just trying to focus on my game. Later on I'm going to open the social media, be, Okay, who was there?

Q. Are you avoiding looking at the Royal Box?

ARYNA SABALENKA: I mean, anyway you see the Royal Box. It looks so beautiful, so chic, to be honest. Really beautiful to see. I'm trying not to focus on who is there. From the outside, it's just beautiful picture.

Q. It's been said that you've been adding a lot of variety into your game, dropshots, slices. What from your vantage point do you think you have improved upon the most? Can you talk about when you became a professional and started the WTA, what has changed from that point to now?

ARYNA SABALENKA: From that point, it seems like everything changed. I control my emotions much better. I play much better. I serve much better. I have variety in the game. I think back then I could just hit the ball flat. It was a lottery if it's going to be in or out. It was tough back then.

I'm really proud to see the improvement. I think what I improved the most, I mean, mental part of the game of course. I think my slice, my dropshot got much better. It helped me in my defense. It helped me to bring the variety in the game, just to mess with opponent.

Yeah, I think slice and dropshot is definitely something I improved a lot in the past.

Q. Alexander Zverev gave an incredible press conference last night where he said again and again that he felt really alone on court and off the court, felt like he was in a hole. He didn't have motivation to get up and didn't know what to do. He wasn't sure about therapy. You've gone through a lot of obstacles in your career. What would you suggest? What is the best key to problem solving?

ARYNA SABALENKA: Well, I had therapist for like five years in my career. I stopped working, I don't know, maybe 2022. But it's actually crazy to hear from someone like Alexander because he surrounded himself, like, with the family, you know?

I think it's really important to talk openly about whatever you're dealing with. Especially if you have your family, you can talk whatever. Like whatever you feel, you can tell to your family. I think it's really important to be open and to talk about what are you experiencing because if you're going to keep it inside, it's just going to destroy you. I think that's kind of like something happening to him.

I think he just need to open up to whoever is close to him. Like I think family is the best - how you say - people who can accept whatever you're dealing with.

The moment you start talk about your problems, you kind of start realizing a lot of things. It's helping to solve them. So I think he just has to be a bit more open, not only to himself but just like open to his family, team, just so everyone aware what going on through his mind. I think, yeah, that's the most important.

Like me with my team, we always talk a lot. So that's why I don't need therapist, because I have my team. We can talk about whatever. I know they're not going to judge me. They're not going to blame me. They just going to accept it, and we are just going to work through. I think this is the best advice I can give Sascha.