MUTUA MADRID OPEN

April 27, 2026

Aryna Sabalenka

Press Conference

A. SABALENKA/N. Osaka

6-7, 6-3, 6-2

THE MODERATOR: Aryna, congrats. What was the key of the match today for you?

ARYNA SABALENKA: I think that I tried to stay in the game, and that I was fighting for every point. I think, yeah, that's it.

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. I know you talked about on court how you had to fight for each point, and that Naomi Osaka raised her level. I know she obviously raised her level, but how pleased were you with your individual performance?

ARYNA SABALENKA: With my individual performance? What do you mean by that?

Q. The way you played on court, in comparison to other times.

ARYNA SABALENKA: Oh, okay. I think I played quite well. I think I just dropped my level at the end of the first set and gave her that tiebreak quite easily. But overall I'm happy with my performance. When someone put me under pressure, I was able to pull out really incredible shots and incredible tennis. So I'm happy.

I'm happy that she actually brought that fight, just so I could fight through it, I could struggle a little bit, and find a solution in the match. So, overall happy.

Q. When you're playing on this clay court and these conditions and at this elevation, what is it that you do to your game in order to sort of create some more control? In addition to that, do you prefer these kind of conditions, or do you like it more what you confront more in Paris and Rome?

ARYNA SABALENKA: I don't know. I like both. I think at this point of my career I really enjoy each surface. I really enjoy this process of adjusting to something to find the keys on basically each surface.

Here, I'm just trying to create more shape on the ball, and just use this high bounce. Just basically play my game, but maybe a little bit more with the spin.

Q. Did you forget the feeling of losing a tennis match?

ARYNA SABALENKA: No, you never forget that feeling. It's unforgettable (laughing). Same as winning. I hate losing. This is the worst feeling for an athlete.

Q. Madrid has always showed your game, but you are going to win all the slams now or how many more times?

ARYNA SABALENKA: I wish I would have an answer (laughing).

Q. Apart from that, your serve has gotten better. You were very nervy and you did a lot of doubles, but that was years ago. Now, even your second serve is better. Is that a mental thing or a technical thing that you have overcome?

ARYNA SABALENKA: I think I had combination of both. It was a technical, but also mental thing. So I had to, first of all, find answers from the technical point of view on my serve. Then, when I had the answers, like mental part of my struggle kind of like disappeared because I shifted my focus on different things.

Right now, I mean, I still can double fault, but it doesn't bother me. I know exactly what went wrong. I know how to adjust, how to do a better serve.

So, right now, I think right now, overall, I've become a better player. I've become better in adjusting to different conditions, to different players. I think that's what right now is my kind of like a weapon.

Q. I guess you heard about the virus here, and I just want to ask, how are you feeling? Is everything okay?

ARYNA SABALENKA: (Knocking on wood.) So far, so good. I heard that I have to avoid those tacos (laughing). I stick to the same food, same meal that I've been having since the very beginning of the tournament. I try not to stay for too long on site. Extra vitamin C, I guess, extra IM8, and I'm good to go, hopefully.

Q. What is the meal?

ARYNA SABALENKA: That I'm having? Just chicken breast with rice and some salad. Pretty simple.

Q. Do you think about this streak that you're on? Do you know how many it is?

ARYNA SABALENKA: Not really, but I would guess it's super easy to count.

Q. So you don't know?

ARYNA SABALENKA: I don't really know.

Q. It's not on your mind at this point?

ARYNA SABALENKA: No, no, no. I'm just trying to play every match as good as possible, and basically that's where my focus is.