US OPEN

August 29, 2025

Aryna Sabalenka

Press Conference

A. SABALENKA/L. Fernandez

6-3, 7-6

THE MODERATOR: Congratulations. We will go straight to questions.

Q. Great match. You said something on court about how you really wanted the revenge. Can you speak a little bit about what that meant to you when you were playing. Obviously referencing the 2021 loss to Fernandez.

ARYNA SABALENKA: Yeah. Yeah, it was a tough match. It was a tough lesson for me back then. Since then, we never played again.

I just wanted to prove to myself that the lesson was learned and that I developed as a player and, yeah, I could get this win. I won the match, and it was very important, because she played incredible tennis. It was a tough match, and I handled it pretty well and super happy with that.

Q. A word about the tiebreak. This is an example of what you have been doing all year long. You have been dominating tiebreaks. Does that say something about where your game is mentally now?

ARYNA SABALENKA: Well, I definitely think that mentally I'm pretty strong, and I'm still growing, because I'm learning a lot of lessons, and all of those lessons making me tougher, tougher, and tougher.

In those tiebreaks, I'm just trying to focus on myself, I'm trying to trust my game, and stay aggressive and just go after shots that I think in the moment the right decision.

Q. I was wondering if you noticed the mid-match marriage proposal that happened.

ARYNA SABALENKA: Yes, I saw that.

Q. Is that the first time that happened? And what do you make of that happening during your match?

ARYNA SABALENKA: I think it's the first time that someone proposed during my match. It was a very sweet moment, but I was just trying not to start smiling, because it's very cute and I believe they're super happy right now.

I was just trying to keep focusing on my game, and it was great moment, and as I said on court, I wish them happy marriage (smiling).

Q. Are you hoping somebody else in the crowd got some ideas after watching you do that?

ARYNA SABALENKA: I don't want this kind of proposal. But I looked at my boyfriend. Yeah (smiling). No pressure.

Q. Do you get the sense that the other players are very aware of your tiebreak record?

ARYNA SABALENKA: I hope so. I'm not focusing on that during the match, obviously, but extra pressure on my opponents, I love that.

Q. Just on the tiebreaks, do you feel your level rise in tiebreaks at the moment? Because that's what it looked like.

ARYNA SABALENKA: I think, you know, sometimes during the set I'm doubting my decisions, and when I get to the tiebreak I know that there is no time for doubts and I just have to go for my shots and I have to trust my game.

I'm just reminding myself that I have to trust, I have a pretty good feeling, I know what to do on court, and I'm trying to stick to the plan of the game, and trying to stay aggressive and put as much pressure as I can on my opponent.

Q. Do you consider Leylah to be a tough opponent? What did you do differently this time to beat her?

ARYNA SABALENKA: She's definitely a tough opponent. I can see she's working hard. She's improving. She played incredible tennis today.

I think it was just a few points in each set that decided the result. She's moving well. You know, coming to the net, playing really confident game out there.

Yeah, I definitely consider her as a tough opponent.

Q. Looking back, what do you think the main differences are of you as a player and as a person from that night four years ago?

ARYNA SABALENKA: Well, I think I have better understanding of the game. Also I have definitely better control over my emotions. I think I trust myself much more, and I'm not doubting that I can win the match.