AUSTRALIAN OPEN

January 27, 2026

Aryna Sabalenka

Press Conference

S. SABALENKA/I. Jovic

6-3, 6-0

THE MODERATOR: Congratulations, Aryna. Back into the semifinals. Just talk us through your thoughts on the match and also how your opponent played as well.

ARYNA SABALENKA: Yeah, super happy to get the win. She's young, great player. Super happy to get this win in straight sets. Happy with the level I played today. Yeah, amazing player she is.

THE MODERATOR: Questions.

Q. Your success rate at getting to semifinals at Grand Slams over and over again is really incredible the last few years. Does it feel normal to you at this point, or does it still feel like something amazing that you've had this consistency at these big tournaments?

ARYNA SABALENKA: I mean, when I'm in the tournament, I'm not thinking about that, but sometimes we all stop for a second and we think the level we were able to reach, it sounds really incredible and tough to believe.

Yeah, for sure, like, everyone sometimes, I just think that it's unbelievable what I was able to achieve. I think what's really helping me to be there all the time is the focus that I'm having. Yeah, focusing on the right things definitely helps a lot with the consistency.

Q. Aryna, you're probably going to be the only singles match that's played in an open stadium today. Just wondered how the conditions were, and were you aware that you're probably 10 or 15 minutes away from the closing of the roof?

ARYNA SABALENKA: Yeah, that was, at the end of the match, it was really hot out there. I'm glad they kind of closed the roof kind of, like, almost halfway so we had a lot of shade in the back so we could go back and stay in the shade.

Yeah, but it was hot out there. I guess, yeah, as a woman, we are stronger than the guys, so they had to close the roof for the guys so they don't suffer, you know (laughter).

Q. Did you know they might be closing it completely quite soon if you had taken it any longer?

ARYNA SABALENKA: I knew going into this match that they won't let us play on crazy heat. If it would reach the 5, they would definitely close the roof, so I knew that they were protecting us, our health.

Yeah, anyway, when we're finished and it was 4.4, so it was, you know, quite hot. It's okay. I'm happy that I managed.

Q. Can you walk us through what happened when you were asked earlier in the tournament to remove a wearable tracking device on your wrist? Did you know that that device was not allowed? Did you have conversations with the tournament about it since? What are your thoughts on the fact that that device isn't allowed?

ARYNA SABALENKA: The reason why I was wearing that on court, because we received the email that we got approval from the ITF to wear this device. I didn't know that Grand Slams didn't come to conclusion.

I don't understand why, because the whole year we are wearing, on WTA tournaments, all the tournaments I play we wear WHOOP. It's just for tracking my health. I don't understand why Grand Slams are not allowed us to wear it, and I really hope that they will reconsider the decision and let their players track their health monitor.

Q. You spoke I think it was in Brisbane where you talked about how hard it is for your team in a match to know what you want, because sometimes you want them to do one thing or another. How does it change with the coaches being right there? Is it still impossible for them to do the right thing in your eyes?

ARYNA SABALENKA: I just like to keep them guessing what I need, but they know me quite well. Sometimes even I don't know what I need, but they say stuff, and I'm, like, Okay, thanks.

Q. Would that be tactical or encouragement?

ARYNA SABALENKA: It's different, it's different things. Sometimes I need some tactical advice. Sometimes I just need them to cool me down (laughter). Sometimes I just need the support. Sometimes I want them to be quiet. So if you see me doing this, it means, like, you know, keep quiet, please (laughter).

But I don't know. I'm super lucky that they know me better than I know myself, so they always give me the right information and they behave right way. But, yeah, I'm definitely the toughest one to handle.

Q. Do you speak to them about it before, or do you just expect them to read your mind?

ARYNA SABALENKA: No, no, I just expect them to read my mind (laughter).

Q. You've had so much experience obviously with these second weeks and into the deep part of the tournaments. What kind of happens to you during this period of a tournament? I imagine you sort of have different things in your head in the first couple of days when you are doing TikToks and things like that. In the second week, how would you characterize yourself and describe how you're going about your days and evenings and what's going through your head?

ARYNA SABALENKA: Honestly not many things changes. It's, like, at the beginning of the tournament, there is a lot of things that I have to do for brands, a lot of TikToks that I have to do for my health (laughter), but no, I'm just trying to, you know, be focused on the match day, play the match, and then until the, I don't know, next match I'm just trying to stay relaxed and do things that I like, go for dinners, stay in the room, watch Netflix.

It's always different. Sometimes go for shopping. I just, I don't know, follow -- I don't know. I trust myself. Whatever I feel like doing, I go for it, and that's it.

Q. That second set in particular seemed just incredibly clean. I'm wondering if you can recall too many matches where you think you've played better than that?

ARYNA SABALENKA: Definitely not many matches, and yeah, the second set I felt like I have to step in and put even more pressure on her, because I can see that she's young, she's hungry, and I could tell during the match that no matter what's the score, she's still going to be there trying and trying to figure her way.

Yeah, I knew that I have to step in and show the level and the class. I think it really helped me kind of, like, just go for my shots and help me to trust my game. Yeah, that was definitely amazing performance in the second set.

Q. Obviously you'll be playing either Coco Gauff or Elina Svitolina in the next round. How would you describe their game? How would you approach playing either of them?

ARYNA SABALENKA: Well, it doesn't matter who is going to make it to the semis. It's going to be a battle, because whoever makes it there, it's incredible player. I think my approach going to be the same. Doesn't matter whom I'm facing.

I'll just go, and I'll be focussed on myself and on my game, and I'll be fighting for every point. That's my approach.

Q. Last year you said when you get to this point of finals, it's trophy or nothing. Nobody remembers the finalist. How much does that mentality drive you now?

ARYNA SABALENKA: I think every player when they get to the tournament is trophy or nothing. The mentality is the same, and it's always in the back of your mind that obviously you want to win it.

But I'm trying to shift my focus on the right things and taking it step by step and just trying my best in each match, each point, each game, each set. That's my mentality.

Q. If it is Coco, how do you feel about in terms of your bounceback from the French Open? You beat her in Saudi Arabia last year. How do you have a handle on the tactics of how to play Coco at this point?

ARYNA SABALENKA: I think we know each other quite well, and we know the tactic that each of us going to bring on court.

Once again, I honestly don't care if it's Coco or if it's Elina. I'll be out there, I'll be fighting, I'll be doing everything I can to get the win.