ROLAND GARROS

May 28, 2026

Aryna Sabalenka

Press Conference

A. SABALENKA/E. Jacquemot

7-5, 6-2

THE MODERATOR: Aryna, congratulations. It's never easy to play a French woman on Chatrier, but you made it through in straight sets today. On to the third round. Just give us your thoughts on that experience and your level today.

ARYNA SABALENKA: Yeah, that was a very tough opponent. Tricky match. I'm happy that I closed it in straight sets.

I have to say that, of course, they were cheering for her, but I have to say that they were really respectful, and it was really nice playing on Chatrier even against the French.

So I really enjoyed it, and happy to be through.

THE MODERATOR: Questions.

Q. It seems you and Novak are a little bit of a Michael Jackson dance-off on the stage.

ARYNA SABALENKA: Yeah, I love that I'm the second one, so he has to come up with something. I just have to, I don't know -- I have to follow it and do it a little bit better.

Q. I'm curious, what's your favorite Michael Jackson song?

ARYNA SABALENKA: Oh, I would say that "Thriller" is one of them, because they were dancing in -- what is the name of the movie, like Turning 13 from 30.

THE MODERATOR: 13 going on 30.

ARYNA SABALENKA: That was my favorite movie with my mom when I was, like, 14, 15, and they were dancing this dance. It was so cool.

I'll go for "Thriller." That's one of the favorites.

Q. Congrats. Did you see what Moise Kouame did today? What do you think of his performance at 17? He won in five sets at 17 on Lenglen on the first match of the day.

ARYNA SABALENKA: 17 years old, yeah? It's so cool. I was cheering for him. I got to speak with him, like, for few minutes because we are staying in the same hotel, I believe. We did activity for raffle, so I got to speak. Very nice guy. I wish him the best, and I really hope he can really break through in this tournament.

He was playing really great tennis. That tiebreak, I was full-on cheering for him, so happy he closed it.

Q. You're a social media star, someone who inspires a lot of young woman. I'm wondering how you manage this group of men around you, and how do you handle it that nobody interferes in the job of the other one?

ARYNA SABALENKA: I think we have to ask them how do they handle me (laughing), because I'm so lucky to have them. It's always fun time.

They work together. I don't know. It feels like they are there just for me, and they're going to do everything that I need. To have their support, to have all of them behind my back, it's amazing. I don't have to handle anything. It's only fun time.

Those mens are my biggest support, so I think we really have to ask them how they can handle me, because that's tricky.

That's another question, right, guys? Is it fun, huh?

(Coach says it's stressful.)

ARYNA SABALENKA: What do you mean, "stressful"? What the [expletive]? Did I say it? Oh, my God. What the heck? That's what I meant.

Q. Up next is Daria Kasatkina. You've played her nine or ten times. You've got the advantage. What do you think going into this one, and especially with all the talk on the conditions and how hot it is? What do you think?

ARYNA SABALENKA: Yeah, I don't even remember the score head-to-head. She's amazing. It's always challenging playing her.

I never look into the previous matches going into the match against her, because it always can be tricky. She's a fighter. She's putting all of the balls back. You have to really work for each point, especially on the clay court.

So it's another tough match, but I'm ready to fight. I'm ready to, you know, face every condition possible. I'm just super excited to face her and ready to bring the fight.

Q. I'm sure you were following Jannik's game, because it was on the court. It was affecting your schedule ahead of the game. Just can you describe how it was, and what were you feeling when he was almost closed, and you almost like...

ARYNA SABALENKA: I felt so bad for him. I always cheer for Jannik. Yeah, to see him struggle like that, it was really painful to see.

To the very last moment I was hoping for him to win. I wasn't really thinking about my schedule. I mean, if I start later, it's okay for me. So I was just, like, worried that he's not going to close the match.

Sad for him, but I'm pretty sure that he's going to come back even stronger. Time, I guess, to do some recovery, some rest, and be ready for grass court for him.

But sad to see him leaving that early.

Q. I wanted to ask about the first and the second sets when you were serving for the set at 5-4 and then at 5-1. You got broken both times. Did you feel like a momentum shift? How did you pull yourself back together to win those sets?

ARYNA SABALENKA: I don't think I got broken at 5-4, no? I don't even remember. I mean, it's a clay court. Anything can happen.

You know, serve is not that big of advantage as on hard court or grass court, so I was mentally ready for that. I was ready to, you know, fight for every point.

I don't know, it didn't upset me in any way. I was ready to fight.