AUSTRALIAN OPEN

January 16, 2026

Aryna Sabalenka

Press Conference

THE MODERATOR: Aryna, welcome back. It was another perfect start for the year for you in Brisbane. How has your preparation been going since then?

ARYNA SABALENKA: Yeah, I'm happy to be back. I have a lot of great memories from this place. Yeah, I can't complain about my start of the season. I think I played some great matches there, showed great tennis. Super excited to start this tournament.

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. It seemed like December was maybe busier for you than usual, playing a lot of exhibition matches and stuff. How are you able to do that but still recover from the season, prepare for this one?

ARYNA SABALENKA: Yeah, I had a great off-season, so I was really recovered and ready. Yeah, I played an extra exhibitions, but I think they all made sense. It's kind of like good matches, to have like matches, to test couple things that I've been working on during the pre-season.

I felt exhausted after Atlanta and New York, but I had one or two days off, so I felt recovered after. I had a great preparation. Then there is really high-intensity match against Nick, which is also part of my preparation.

By the end of the pre-season, I felt really strong and ready.

Q. Can I ask about your trip to the Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon?

ARYNA SABALENKA: That's incredible. I couldn't dream about, like, going to these shows. It's always a lot of fun. He's very energetic, very fun. I really enjoyed my time there. I really hope I can do these kind of shows more often. I think is really cool. Also helps to kind of, like, promote tennis even more.

Q. You and Iga have been sharing the No. 1 ranking for the past several years. Last year you only played one time. How do you feel about the status of that rivalry at the moment?

ARYNA SABALENKA: I think it's actually not only about me and Iga. There is, yeah... It's Coco, Elena, Jessica. I just don't want to forget anyone right now (smiling). It's not only about me and her, to be honest.

But that's crazy to think that we only played once last year. Yeah, we haven't played this year yet. I hope we going to play more often this season.

Also, yeah, as I said, it's not only about us. There is so many great players I have also great rivalry with, yeah.

Q. You've been among the players lobbying the Grand Slams for more concessions, prize money, welfare benefits, those sorts of things. How do you think the Australian Open has responded to those?

ARYNA SABALENKA: I think we always can do better (smiling). But I think all of the slams, they trying to work together with us and come to conclusion. I hope one day we'll get to happy place for everyone.

Q. How could they be better? When you say they could do better, what could the Australian Open do better?

ARYNA SABALENKA: Well, I mean, can I pass (smiling)?

Q. Given your success here historically with the titles in '23 and '24, how much do you think about last year's final against Madison? Is that something on your mind entering this Australian Open?

ARYNA SABALENKA: Yeah, that final was tough one. She played incredible and overplayed me. Took me a little time to recover.

We had matches after that. I kind of, like, worked on my mistake on those matches. Going to this AO, I'm not really focusing on that last year result. But of course I would like to do just a little bit better than I did last year (smiling).

Q. You talked about reading that memoir Into the Magic Shop. Have you read anything else in the off-season, anything about mindfulness?

ARYNA SABALENKA: Not really. (Laughter.) I don't know, guys. I'm terrible in reading books. I always follow how I feel, you know? That time I felt like reading. I wanted to disappear from the social media, just wanted to be by myself with the book. That time it worked perfectly.

Yeah, last couple of months, even more than that, been pretty busy. I didn't even have time to, like, just sit back and just like have my moment with the book. So I haven't ready anything.

Why I feel so embarrassed? Especially when other players reading nonstop. Well, I have to be honest. Like studying, reading, learning never been my weapon, so maybe that's why I succeed in tennis, because this is the only spot was left for me (laughter).

Q. Do you feel like you get inspiration from music, movies?

ARYNA SABALENKA: I get inspired by just seeing next generation cheering for me, get inspired by me. That's my inspiration. Also I love listen music. I just brings me to another world where I can dream and think, yeah, and try to kind of like get better in a way. Also, yeah, movies as well. But also not enough time right now for movies.

Q. Do you have any routines when it comes to preparing for a Grand Slam once it starts? Do you do anything to either stay in the zone for the whole thing or disconnect and reconnect?

ARYNA SABALENKA: Yeah, I think the thing that been working for me quite well is balancing. When it's a match day, I'm like fully focused, fully prepared. But when it's off day, I obviously do my hitting, then I go for dinner or for walk to completely get disconnected from tennis world for little moment just so I feel fresh and ready to go next day.

Q. Aryna, I think I read not that long ago that you were trying to create yourself into a brand.

ARYNA SABALENKA: Uh-huh.

Q. How are you doing that? Is it something similar, I guess you could say, to Serena is a brand, Maria Sharapova is a brand? What are your thoughts in that line?

ARYNA SABALENKA: Yeah, I always wanted to be something bigger than just a tennis player. I always wanted to be inspiration for the next generation and be example of a great athlete who can balance things around.

Also I always share and I always work with the brands that I really truly love, that I really use. I wanted to promote things that I can help to so many people.

Yeah, basically that's my brand. It's showing people that it's okay to balance on- and out of-the-court life, to have fun, but really be focused on your goals. Also by working with the brands I truly believe in. I think that's my brand positioning.

Q. I don't think you've missed a major quarterfinal since 2022. I think that's the longest streak that anyone's got going on either tour. How have you been able to upset-proof your game because nobody else has been able to do that?

ARYNA SABALENKA: Maybe because I'm not really thinking about that. I'm just taking one step at the time. I'm always trying to stay in the present, never in the past, even if it's good or bad. I'm trying to be as present as possible and always thinking on improving myself as a player and a person.

I think that's why I was able to be really consistent on court.