US OPEN

September 4, 2025

Aryna Sabalenka

Press Conference

A. SABALENKA/J. Pegula

4-6, 6-3, 6-4

THE MODERATOR: Congratulations. If you could, your thoughts on your level of play in that match.

ARYNA SABALENKA: Well, I think I really played great tennis. I think I handled that pressure really well. I'm super proud of this win.

Yeah, happy to be in another final.

THE MODERATOR: Questions.

Q. Tennis players often forget disappointment very quickly, and the way you were able to reset after missing the overhead was really impressive. What was going through your mind in that last game and how you figured it out in the end?

ARYNA SABALENKA: I was super emotional. I was just, like, Oh, my gosh, no way it's happening. Please, just close this match.

Of course I was emotional, and then there was another kind of, like, easy shot that I -- not that I missed, but I didn't make the right decision. The whole match I just keep telling myself, into the next one, just one step at a time, don't worry about the past. Just try better in the next point.

Q. (Off microphone.)

ARYNA SABALENKA: Because I badly wanted to give myself another opportunity, another final, and I want to prove to myself that I learned those tough lessons and I can do better in the finals.

Q. When you're in those difficult situations trying to serve out a match and multiple match points are coming and going, I wonder if you ever think back to previous big matches where you have been in that situation before and know you have come through it? It reminded me a lot of when you were trying to serve out your first Australian Open final in 2023. Similar thing, lots of match points. Do you go, I have done this before, I can do it again?

ARYNA SABALENKA: No, in this match I was actually just trying to take one step at a time. I was, like, it's okay if you didn't close it from the first match point. You're playing great tennis. Just go try and better. I wasn't really going back in those tough matches.

Q. You mentioned there about difficult finals, difficult situations this year. Obviously one of those was the interview on court after Paris, as well. Have you thought yet about what you might say were you to win, were you not to win?

ARYNA SABALENKA: No, but what happened in Paris, definitely not gonna happen here and never, you know. I learned that lesson, and I will never behave that way. It's not me, you know.

Yeah, I was super emotional. I let it go and let emotions take control over me, and it's not who I am. It's never gonna happen again.

Q. How would you describe your thoughts on what it would feel like to hold that trophy again?

ARYNA SABALENKA: It's going to feel amazing, you know. I'm super excited to give myself another opportunity, another final. If I'll be able to hold that trophy, it's going to mean a lot for me. I'll be just the happiest person on earth probably.

Q. Could you tell us please something about your match against Kyrgios in January and who had the idea? Did you call him? Did he call you? What do you think about it?

ARYNA SABALENKA: Sorry, say again. Nick Kyrgios?

Q. The "Battle of the Sexes" in January.

ARYNA SABALENKA: Well, I think it's cool idea, you know. I think it's gonna be spectacular to watch. It's going to be fun, especially against someone like Nick.

Like he said in another interview, that I genuinely think that I'm going to win, and I'll definitely go out there, and I'll try my best to kick his ass (laughter).

Q. Have you decided where and when you're going to play that match against Kyrgios? Is it a good thing for women's tennis?

ARYNA SABALENKA: It's gonna be good thing if I'll be able to win him, but for now, we are not sure about the place. But definitely if we're going to bring it, we're going to bring it to somewhere where it's going to be a lot of people watching, and we're gonna put a lot of pressure on Nick.

Q. Your thoughts on the final and the two opponents. I don't think you have played Naomi in a long time here, right?

ARYNA SABALENKA: Yeah, I think it was here a long, long time ago.

Q. That was a big match in the fourth round of the tournament. What do you remember about that match? What do you think it will be like to play her again seven years later in a Grand Slam final?

ARYNA SABALENKA: I remember, I was, like, a kid. I remember emotions I have been going through, and it was really tight, close match. I think I was up at the break in the third set. I think it was something like that. So it was really close match, and if it's going to be her, I'm super excited.

I love revenges, and I think it's a good time to take one.

Q. Where do you think your agents will sit? You share agents.

ARYNA SABALENKA: Yeah, I was just asking, because it's, like, a couple, wife and a husband. So I was thinking if they're going to, you know -- no, obviously they're not going to sit in the match.

Q. If you play Amanda, what sticks out from the last time you met her, which wasn't very long ago? What do you think for you would be the key?

ARYNA SABALENKA: I think I have to trust myself, and I have to go after my shots. I felt like in that match at Wimby, I was doubting a lot my decisions, and that was the main thing that was bringing a lot of unforced errors.

I gave her a lot of opportunities, and of course, she played incredible tennis, but I feel like I had my opportunities. I didn't use them, and I feel like the key for me going to be just go out there, of course, like, obviously fight, but trust my decisions and go after my shots.