THE CHAMPIONSHIPS

June 30, 2025

Aryna Sabalenka

Press Conference

A. SABALENKA/C. Branstine

6-1, 7-5

THE MODERATOR: Aryna, how were you feeling out on court today?

ARYNA SABALENKA: I felt really great. Super grateful to be healthy and ready to compete and to be through the first round. Super happy right now, yeah. That's my answer (smiling).

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. Your first time back in two years. Do you have any extra emotions because you did open up Court 1?

ARYNA SABALENKA: I was thinking about that yesterday. But I was just trying to get myself distracted, not to think about that. Yeah, it's amazing feeling. Honestly, like see the full stadium, it was something else.

Just super grateful for everything I have.

Q. Thoughts on playing Carson for the first time? Second set was close. What are your thoughts on her potential as a player?

ARYNA SABALENKA: Yeah, I think if she's continue working, she definitely has a potential. Very big serving. Honestly in the second set, it was really tough to read her serve. The speed was unbelievable.

Yeah, lucky me, I could break her and finish the set. But yeah, it was tough second set.

Q. The last two Grand Slams you opened on the Sunday. Does it feel any different, a Sunday start at a slam?

ARYNA SABALENKA: I actually prefer playing Monday, having two days. Then if you start on Sunday, you have, like, two days off. If I start, it's one after another one.

I prefer like this.

Q. There's a kid who was talking to you after the match. You said he shouldn't say something.

ARYNA SABALENKA: What?

Q. When you were signing autographs.

ARYNA SABALENKA: Yeah, he was talking Brazilian Portuguese, a little cursing stuff because of the video of me cursing in the practice went viral in Brazil.

I replied, You shouldn't be saying that. Yeah, it was a fun moment (smiling).

Q. What are your thoughts about the change from having lines-people to electric line calling?

ARYNA SABALENKA: I don't know. I was talking about that the other day on the press conference.

I mean, I'm like 50/50. Probably leaning towards electronical system more. Don't think of challenging, like don't doubt anything. So I think it's easier. Whatever the system is saying, it is what's.

If you have line umpires, you always thinking like, Should I challenge or shouldn't I? It's a lot of doubt in your head, like an extra doubt. Why would you have it?

I think I'm leaning more towards Hawk-Eye system than line umpires. Even though historically here it's only line umpires. It's kind of like all court.

Just have less struggle in the head, I prefer Hawk-Eye.

Q. Do you think having a tougher second set will benefit you over the fortnight rather than winning 1-1?

ARYNA SABALENKA: Well, I think the goal is to win as quickly, as easier as possible, so physically you're more fresh in the next rounds.

But I think it was really good for me to have this little fight in the second set just to, like, see where my level is at, if I'm mentally ready to fight.

I think I'm ready. So I think at the end it was good to have this little fight in the second set.

Q. You were practicing earlier next to Carlos Alcaraz. You were hitting some big forehands. Afterwards you had fun interaction. Are you sending messages to him of what to expect at the US Open mixed doubles maybe?

ARYNA SABALENKA: Well, not really, but probably from that one I'm going to start putting pressure on the rest of the... I'm going to put a lot of pressure (laughter).

Q. Just had an epic French Open men's final. Yours was very dramatic as well. Would you be interested if they made it best of five in the finals, semis, quarters for the women?

ARYNA SABALENKA: I think probably physically I'm one of the strongest ones, so maybe it would benefit me. But I think I'm not ready to play five sets. I think it's too much on the woman body. I think we're not ready for this amount of tennis. I think it would increase amount of injuries.

So I think this is not something I would consider (smiling). I'll let this thing for guys to handle.

Q. You were jealous watching them?

ARYNA SABALENKA: No, I was happy to see that long, high-quality match. For someone watching, it's amazing to see five hours of great tennis. It's so fun to watch.

But I'm not really jealous to stay there for five hours as a player. I don't know how many days they needed to recover after that crazy match. It was unbelievable match.

Q. As the world No. 1, is it difficult to have that pressure on every match, every tournament, as you are the big favorite?

ARYNA SABALENKA: I think maybe if I would be, like, 20 years old and world No. 1, it would be really difficult for me to handle that pressure. I think I'm a quite experienced player and I'm not focusing on that. I'm trying to focus on myself, get better in my game, on and off the court.

I'm just trying to bring my best tennis every time, just trying to fight for my dreams. I'm not thinking of being world No. 1 and being one of the favorites.

Q. I often see you dancing. What does it mean to you, what it does?

ARYNA SABALENKA: I love doing TikTok. It's something when I feel I'm overthinking something, I put the TikTok and I start to learn dancing just to switch from all of that pressure. You still feel the pressure. Everyone, I think, does. It's a cool switch-off. Just to learn something different. Yeah, to have fun.

I'm not the best. Probably my moves are terrible. But I'm trying (smiling). I have no time for classes, like dance classes, you know?

Q. You were speaking before about some of the practice sessions with some really hard-hitting guys. What's the thought process in having practice sessions with some of the top men's players?

ARYNA SABALENKA: It's amazing. You play with them and you look on that side and you see the difference. You see the different approach to the balls. You're learning.

I think automatically you start, like, reflecting what's happening on that side. I think it really helped my tennis, to be honest. Now there is some balls that I used to struggle a little. Right now, I kind of understand a little bit better how to adjust to those balls.

I feel like even today on the match and on the practice after hitting with the guys, I felt like I improved couple of things in my game.

I'm super happy that I was able to hit with them because I learn, I think, a lot.

Q. How did you pick Grigor for mixed doubles?

ARYNA SABALENKA: Honestly, I didn't know what's happening with the US Open mixed doubles. He just messaged me, telling something about mixed doubles. I'm like, What are you talking about? I didn't even know. Are you crazy, I'm not going to play mixed doubles.

Then he explain me that it's a week before, like two-day event, basically. I was like, That sounds fun. I talked to my team. I like playing doubles and mixed doubles. We played with Grigor some exhibitions together. I think the level was pretty good. So I was like, Yeah, let's do that.

Q. Do you think you can win?

ARYNA SABALENKA: I hope so.