ROLAND GARROS

June 1, 2026

Aryna Sabalenka

Press Conference

A. SABALENKA/N. Osaka

7-5, 6-3

THE MODERATOR: Aryna, congratulations. You played a high-quality match today against Naomi Osaka. What do you think made the difference in the key moments?

ARYNA SABALENKA: Yeah, super happy with my performance. Of course, happy to get the win. I think the key was that I really stayed aggressive no matter what, and I was serving pretty well.

I think, yeah, overall, I think I played a really great match.

THE MODERATOR: Questions in English.

Q. Congratulations for your performance tonight. There was a real sense of occasion tonight, a big night-session match, you and Naomi. We all saw how well you both played. It's three-and-a-half years since a women's match featured in the night session here. It was you against Sloane Stephens. To put it very directly, does it piss you off that it's taken 33 night sessions in three-and-a-half years for you or any other woman to feature in the night session here?

ARYNA SABALENKA: First of all, I'm really honored that today's night-session match was our match with Naomi. It was really enjoyable to play. It was, yeah, great emotions.

It's not pissing me off. To be honest, me personally, I really like to play early matches and have, like, kind of day and a half off.

But if you would ask me if I would like to play more often night sessions, I would say, of course, I would like to, because I experience really crazy atmosphere. It was really enjoyable. It was really cool to play.

If they would come back to me and ask, Would you like to play night session? I would say, Yes, definitely yes. The atmosphere was really cool.

But at the same time, I have nothing against playing the first match or second match, because then you have more time to rest and to recover.

Q. Do you think it's important for women's tennis to have some, at least some night matches, because it has been such a long time where it's been a huge run of men's matches? Does it maybe say something negative about the women's game potentially?

ARYNA SABALENKA: I think it's really important that they put our match today as a night session. I think that's the right move. I think the atmosphere and the attention that this match brought gonna show them that probably for the future they should consider putting at least sometimes woman matches at night.

So I hope that this is the beginning, today's match. It's like we open up that door for woman night sessions.

Q. When you're playing as well as you did tonight, how much are you kind of thinking? How much do you just get into a flow state?

ARYNA SABALENKA: I'm just trying to take it one step at a time.

Q. (Off microphone.)

ARYNA SABALENKA: While playing? Yeah, I'm just trying to focus on my game, on the game plan, on still improving my game during the off days. I'm just trying to, you know, bring the fight every time and bring the best level I have every time I'm competing on that beautiful stadium.

Q. Before this year, you had not played Naomi for a long time, like, almost eight years. Now you have played her three times in three months. What's it been like to play her a lot and get to learn more about her as a player and maybe as a person, too? You have been closer to her suddenly. What have you learned about her as a presence?

ARYNA SABALENKA: Yeah, I feel like this year I'm just getting to know her. She's definitely a fighter and a great player. I'm super happy to see her kind of, like, back, maybe not on her best tennis, but getting there.

After, giving birth, that's something unbelievable and inspiring. So I'm just happy to see her back and happy to play matches against her. It's always a battle. It's always challenging. I'm just, yeah, enjoying our battles.

Q. One of the biggest surprises of this tournament is, I think, Maja Chwalinska?

ARYNA SABALENKA: Who?

Q. Maja Chwalinska. You could even play each other in not next but round after next.

ARYNA SABALENKA: Let's just take it one step at a time. You're looking really far (laughing).

Q. Of course, that's right. What do you know about her? What do you think about her tennis?

ARYNA SABALENKA: I have been watching couple of her matches, just latest stages. I saw her practicing by accident, like, couple days ago.

I feel like the clay suits her game really well. From what I've seen, she's moving well, she's changing the rhythm a lot. She's kind of like one of those really smart players and really great in defense.

So I feel like clay really suits her game, and definitely a fighter. I have seen her fighting, especially today against the French player. It's not easy, never easy. She played really great tennis.

So, yeah, definitely future top player.

Q. When you get to these stages of a Grand Slam, and I assume people who haven't won a Grand Slam before maybe do start looking ahead or feeling a little bit tight. How much, when you get to this stage, do you lean on your experience in saying, No, I have been here before, I know what not to do, I know where my head needs to be. How big of a benefit is that for you?

ARYNA SABALENKA: Yeah, I just remember when I won my first Grand Slam, all I was telling myself that if I will be able to bring my fight, if I'll be there, like, trying to do my best with what I have at the moment, I'll have my opportunities. That's basically was my mindset when I won the first Grand Slam.

So at this stages every time I'm just trying to focus on myself and making sure when I'm there competing, I'm fighting and doing everything I can with what I have at the moment, because sometimes you have great days, sometimes you feel like nothing is working and you have to fight.

So that's my mindset, is basically that I'm ready to do whatever it takes to get this beautiful trophy.

Q. On your next opponent, Diana Shnaider, and what you make of her game and the challenge of playing her?

ARYNA SABALENKA: Yeah, she's a great player. I'd say tricky game, changing the rhythm a lot, and moving well, great serving. So I'm super excited to face her for the first time and super excited for the fight.

Q. (Off microphone.)

ARYNA SABALENKA: I love it, actually. I love the rhythm and surprisingly, actually. But I always like playing lefties.

Q. I'm curious how eager you are for a chance to play against Serena Williams now that she's coming back to the tournament?

ARYNA SABALENKA: I didn't get it, if she's back in singles or doubles?

Q. Doubles so far, but singles in the future seems likely.

ARYNA SABALENKA: Yeah, I mean, that's fun, that's cool. She has a really cool personality. She's fun, and she's a legend. It's inspiring to see, you know?

I'm actually excited to see her play and probably face her, so it's very cool. It's very good news for tennis.

Q. When the draw is going the way it is with all the shocks and upsets in both men and women's tournaments, is it scary for you? How do you stay calm in the face of trying to defend your ranking as World No. 1, contender for the title?

ARYNA SABALENKA: I think because I'm not really focusing on that and I'm not really overthinking, I was able to kind of, like, separate myself from what's going on this year at the Roland Garros.

You know, I mean, I have been around. Anything can happen. That's tennis. That's sport, you know?

I'm just trying, once again, you know, to be focused on myself and make sure that when I'm there competing, I'm bringing my best level that I have, and I'm there, I'm fighting, and you know, I'm doing everything I can to get this trophy.