ROLAND GARROS

May 26, 2026

Aryna Sabalenka

Press Conference

A. SABALENKA/J. Bouzas Maneiro

6-4, 6-2

THE MODERATOR: Aryna, congratulations. No Grand Slam match is easy in either a first round or later in the stages, but how did you feel on court today and how do you rate your performance?

ARYNA SABALENKA: Yeah, I'm super happy to be through. I feel like it was a tricky first-round opponent. Happy with the level I played, happy with the fight I brought. Just happy to be through this first-round match.

THE MODERATOR: Questions.

Q. Just on that theme of first round, early-round match, it's quite common for you or any top player to ease their way into a tournament. Could you talk about the difference of dynamic in a first-round match and maybe getting used to the conditions versus later on in the tournament when you're maybe hitting your stride a bit?

ARYNA SABALENKA: I'd say that the first matches are always the trickiest ones because you're trying to see where you're at and trying to get used to conditions and kind of fight the nerves and everything.

I'd say that for me always not easy, the first rounds. And then, as more I play, as further I get in the tournament, as more comfortable I get, my level becomes better. So I'd say that the first one is the toughest one. And then depends. You know, I feel like there is no easy matches anymore, but, like, let's say emotions-wise, the first one is always the tricky one.

Q. (Question off microphone.)

ARYNA SABALENKA: Yeah, I just go there, prepared for literally anything and ready to fight.

Q. How is the weather out there? It's been a big talking point this week. How did the surface play in this heat, as well?

ARYNA SABALENKA: I'd say that it was a bit warm (smiling), especially compared to the first days when I first got here, it was like 14 degrees, like, freezing. Now it's, like, boiling hot and balls are flying, everything is much faster.

But physically I feel strong, so I feel like it can benefit me, and I just try to stay strong and ignore the weather (smiling).

Q. It was 30-plus degrees outside and you were wearing black. Also, your diamonds and the jewelry you're wearing seems heavy. How comfortable are you playing in all of that in this weather?

ARYNA SABALENKA: Don't like to take it easy, you know. I like to challenge myself. But at the same time, the dress is super light, is very, I don't know, like, I don't feel the dress on me. I was thinking it's going to be super hot wearing black, but it doesn't feel like black color on me, so I feel really comfortable.

And diamonds, I don't really feel the heaviness of it, but I can imagine how it looks from the outside. Actually, it's supposed to be the third necklace, but, I was, like, Okay, it's kind of like too much probably, so I decided to keep it just two.

So I feel pretty comfortable. For me, it's important to look good. If I feel good looking-wise, I perform better and I feel great.

Q. On the necklaces, I have seen a few people making a comparison between you calling for extra prize money and then wearing the very expensive diamonds. Do you see in any way how that could be seen as possibly hypocritical?

ARYNA SABALENKA: I don't really see how it can be possible to, like, cross these two completely different worlds. As I said before, prize money, it's not about me at all. It's just fighting for players, lower-ranked players who is really struggling to survive in this tennis world.

So it has nothing to do with me that I'm fighting for the prize money. Everyone knows that I'm okay. It's just that we are fighting for fair percentage out of the revenues, and also for the lower-ranked players, players coming back after injuries, next generation to be more comfortable coming into the top 10.

So it's not about me.

Q. Since I'm representing Polish media, just a question, how do you find Iga here in Paris after all the changes she made with the stuff, with the new coach, with practicing with Rafa Nadal? Do you still consider her one of the biggest rivals here?

ARYNA SABALENKA: Of course, always. I mean, she's such a great player, and I love to see that she's always open for new stuff, bringing new coach, finding things that have been working really well for her before and now kind of like she felt lost.

But I can see that she's getting better and she's improving and she's getting back on track. Of course I always consider her as the favorite.

Q. I'm trying to understand the movement of sliding, a movement that will be very natural and looks effortless.

ARYNA SABALENKA: Me too (laughter).

Q. Why do you say that?

ARYNA SABALENKA: I don't think that I really look great sliding and feel great about it, but I'm still hoping that one day this sliding motion will be good for me (smiling).

Q. How have you improved specifically with any drills or coaches over the years?

ARYNA SABALENKA: I think with my fitness coach, Jason, we have been slowly improving my movement over the years, and with a lot of sliding drills, a lot of sliding exercises to just, like, feel naturally comfortable sliding to the ball and hitting the shot, being balanced and strong in the body. So sliding into the shot you can still feel like grounded and heavy on the shot.

I feel like over the years through really hard work, I have improved in that side of the game but not perfectly. You know, I want to do better job, but slowly, slowly, we are get there.

Q. You're very active in social media, and you have a big community following what you do because of your personality who doesn't really know maybe too much about tennis. How do you know when is the limit to do too much, to lose your concentration about performance?

ARYNA SABALENKA: Well, when I feel like it's too much, when I feel really exhausted doing it and I feel lazy doing it, I don't do it.

But overall, I love doing social media. I love sharing myself with people. I love to show the life that I'm living. I like to show the positive side of the game. I like to show that it's okay to have fun outside of tennis court but also be a hard worker.

I just want the next generation to take that healthy approach to this, like, really tough life of an athlete. I feel like some players can go too much into the professional side of the game and forget about themselves as a people off the court.

That's why I'm trying to kind of like spread the positivity into society, let's say, like that. I don't know. I hope I make some people smile and makes their day, I don't know, happier (smiling).

Q. On the jewelry front, have you had to beef up security when you're sort of traveling to and from the tournament? What's been the players' reaction in the locker room to your...

ARYNA SABALENKA: Oh, they're just checking, like, they're asking, Oh, my God, isn't it to heavy?

But I have my fiance. He's like kind of like my security (smiling). I have my team. I have Jason and my physio who does Jujitsu, so I feel pretty secure walking around. If I go somewhere, I don't go alone. So, yeah.

Q. It's the third time that you play against Bouzas. Which is the best strength of his game, and is he remind you like Spanish model of tennis, like Paula, or she has a different style?

ARYNA SABALENKA: I say that Paula is a bit more aggressive player. I would say that she's, like, she has that Spanish classic tennis but a bit more aggressive.

My opponent today, I feel like she's moving better. She's putting almost every ball back, and that's why she's not easy to play against, especially on the clay.

Q. Another question about the jewelry. Other athletes have said -- because you said earlier it was really important for you to have the jewelry on a personal level. Lewis Hamilton said the same thing about when he chooses his jewelry, it's really important to him. Can you say a bit more about how you choose it and why it's so important when you choose and how you choose it?

ARYNA SABALENKA: I like to bring a little bit of a fashion on the tennis court. I know the dress that I will wear on the Grand Slam, and I just try to come up with something to match the outfit and to make my outfit look better.

So I like to have a little fun with what I wear on court. I don't know. It probably sounds a bit crazy, but when I feel good about what I'm wearing, how I look on court, I tend to perform much better. It's helping (smiling).