ROLAND GARROS

June 3, 2026

Aryna Sabalenka

Press Conference

D. SHNAIDER/A. Sabalenka

3-6, 7-5, 6-0

THE MODERATOR: Aryna, this is obviously a difficult moment, but what are your thoughts and emotions after today's match?

ARYNA SABALENKA: No thoughts, no emotions. Just want to quit tennis right now, but we'll see. We'll see in few days. Hopefully I'll get back on track mentally.

THE MODERATOR: Questions in English.

Q. From your perspective, what happened in the final 10 games in the third set, in particular?

ARYNA SABALENKA: I feel like I had very decent opportunities in the second set. I screw up, and then she stepped in and she played great. I feel like mentally I couldn't really recover after second set. That really -- yeah, I think that was the biggest mistake from me.

Q. As the match was slipping away from you, what were you trying to do to change the direction of it or to slow it down? What just wasn't working for you to be able to find the brakes? This is a very uncharacteristic kind of match for you.

ARYNA SABALENKA: Yeah, I don't know when was the last time that happened to me that I lost 10 games in a row. I don't know. I guess mentally I got into very deep, deep, dark hole over there, and I just couldn't get back mentally on track.

Q. I wondered how big a factor the conditions were, as well. It was a windy afternoon.

ARYNA SABALENKA: Yeah, that's another question. I don't know why would they keep the roof open when it's, like, it was crazy windy.

But how can I complain if almost for the whole match everything was working okay for me, but then it just slipped away. I feel like it was getting crazy maybe just because mentally I wasn't really okay.

So for me felt that it was getting crazy, but I remember even from last year, for our match, they kept the roof open, and the next day it was similar conditions, but for the guys they closed the roof just to make, I believe, better conditions and better quality of tennis.

I don't know why would they keep it open? Even though I was winning, it was very dirty tennis. I don't know how people could actually just sit there and watch me play.

I mean, then at some point she stepped in, and she played unbelievable in those conditions, but I don't know. It's a big question.

Q. Did you ask for the roof to be closed?

ARYNA SABALENKA: No, I didn't. I feel like, you know, no need.

Q. What challenges do the clay and I guess also the grass present to you that has, you think, prevented you from matching your success on hard courts?

ARYNA SABALENKA: Many things (smiling). No, I don't know. I really feel great on clay. I feel great on grass. I think just, I don't know, maybe I'm focusing too much that I never won a slam on each, you know, and maybe it's kind of like make me overthink stuff, make me overemotional at some moment.

I don't know. This is something that I actually have to kind of, like, step back and kind of, like, try to find a solution, because I just am so tired of me losing some matches not in the best way just because I was overemotional.

Q. When you were in that situation, you said it was very difficult mentally. Do you find you end up almost fighting against yourself and you can't find a way back? How does it happen? Is it a sense that it's just too overwhelming and it's something you can't turn around?

ARYNA SABALENKA: No, I just think it's combination of everything. You overthink, then you make easy mistakes, then you, I don't know, you miss opportunities.

Then the other player on another side kind of like stepping in and start playing a bit more aggressively and more free, kind of like fearless. You know, sometimes it's really tough to hold the pressure and put it back on the opponent.

Q. From the outside, it looked like that match had some similarities to last year's final.

ARYNA SABALENKA: Oh, yeah.

Q. I wondered, in terms of your experience, what those similarities were?

ARYNA SABALENKA: Yeah, that's what I'm saying. I just have to sit back and, I don't know, openly think about what's going on in my head in those tough moments, because I'm quite experienced player. I have been through so many things, and I overcome so many things.

I just have to figure that little thing that is not working for me sometimes, and hopefully I can overcome it.

Q. How were you feeling going into the match this morning? Were you in your best spirits mentally? Is there a moment before 5-3 that you started beginning to feel things?

ARYNA SABALENKA: No, no, I felt really great. I felt ready to fight. I felt ready, you know. Yeah, I was super motivated, as always. So I wouldn't say I've done something differently, you know, in the morning.

I just think that there is something in specific moment during the match that happens that, like, I lose control over the match.

Q. How much more difficult is this to take when it was such a big opportunity for you, given the openness of the draw and where you were?

ARYNA SABALENKA: I don't like easy wins, you know. I guess for me it's about suffer, overcome, and get it done (smiling).

But also, you know, how can you say like that? Marta is in great shape. Mirra is playing great tennis. I'm going to make a mistake pronouncing the Polish girl. I'm so sorry. Maja. I'm so sorry. She's also playing really great tennis.

I mean, maybe it has the least like that -- the match shows I had the least, but I don't know how you say, chance.

Q. I think everyone will really appreciate your honest, raw reaction to this defeat. How do you bounce back from disappointments like this? What's your plan going to be over the next few days?

ARYNA SABALENKA: I don't know. I honestly don't know. I guess -- I don't know. I don't know (smiling).

Q. Obviously you have had kind of difficult moments like this in the past where you have had to bounce back. Does it make it even tougher knowing you have put so much into trying to find a way through this, but you still have these mental blocks sometimes?

ARYNA SABALENKA: What doesn't kill us makes us stronger, I guess. At some point I will figure that little situation, and I only will get back tougher.

By the way, you know, I just figure how I can overcome it. You know those rooms where you just go in and you smash everything (laughter)? Probably I will spend a whole day tomorrow over there destroying stuff. Maybe it will help; maybe not (smiling).