THE CHAMPIONSHIPS

June 27, 2026

Aryna Sabalenka

Press Conference

THE MODERATOR: We'll go straight into questions for Aryna Sabalenka.

Q. (Question about the rise in prize money.)

ARYNA SABALENKA: It's a great start they raise the prize money. It's an amazing start. If you look over the last 10 years, if you compare the prize money to 2016, it's kind of like the same because they went down.

It's a great start. I really hope we can finally get to the table and really get it done, come to conclusion that everyone going to be happy with. Hopefully we'll never have to do it again.

Q. I know that you are relating the prize money to the amount of revenue that Wimbledon and the other Grand Slams generate. How do you think it looks to the public, who are paying more and more for their tickets every year, when you are getting a 20% pay rise and are still unhappy?

ARYNA SABALENKA: Like I said a minute ago, if you look to the prize money over the last 10 years, it's kind of like stayed the same.

Once again, I hope we not going to get to this boycotting again.

Listen, we do it for the tour, we don't do it for ourselves. We do it for the rest of the players who are suffering to even hire coach. It's not an easy life for players who is, like, lower in the ranking. So we do it for them.

I really hope that the crowd, I'm more than sure the crowd understand us. I mean, we're playing matches, we're there, we're competing, we're bringing the show. Now we just limiting our media. We just trying to really get to something that everyone going to be happy with.

Q. Post Roland Garros you're working with your psychologist a few times.

ARYNA SABALENKA: Yeah, yeah.

Q. Are you working with him full time? How important is the mental side of tennis?

ARYNA SABALENKA: I feel like it's mostly about mental part of the game. When I start working with psychologist, like, we spoke with my team, and it's okay at some point I'll have to get back to her. That will happen.

I contacted her. I didn't want to find someone else because you have to go through the whole story, you have to tell your whole story, make other person to understand you deeper.

I went to person who knows me really well. For now we're working again. I just feel like I need someone to throw all of my thoughts to, kind of like clear my head a little bit ahead of a big tournament.

I think it's really important. I mean, I have my team. We chat a lot. Sometimes you have things that you don't want to throw at your team at the same time.

I think it's really important to have someone you can talk to and you can feel safe with.

Q. After your loss in Berlin, how did you take that defeat and processed it?

ARYNA SABALENKA: Very fun.

Q. What is the moving-on process?

ARYNA SABALENKA: Game-wise I feel really good. I was working on couple things ahead of Wimbledon. Things really clicked in Berlin, especially in that second set against Jess. In the third set she played unbelievable. I was trying to do my best. I felt like she just found that rhythm that I couldn't broke. Yeah, didn't work well. Honestly, I had a laugh after that third set. I was just, like, Okay, this is what we're dealing with right now.

I just don't want to stay too much in those sets, in those numbers. I just try to work on myself, work on my game. I felt really good throughout the tournament there. I struggled little bit there and there. Overall I feel like things are clicking back together.

Now I'm here, I'm happy, and I can't wait to start playing.

Q. For most media this press conference room is only time we get to hear from you. How did you decide to limit this part of your media commitments rather than others?

ARYNA SABALENKA: I mean, guys, I respect you all. I want you all to understand that I respect you all and I really appreciate the time. Without you, would have been tough to survive in social media corner.

It's not about you at all. I really respect you. We just trying to fight for something bigger, for other players. We just trying to help basically players to survive this world.

Q. Can I ask, I know some of the players were unaware that Wimbledon put forward this idea for a players council at the start of this year. Were you told at that point it would happen? Do you feel there's been some kind of breakdown in communications between your representatives and Wimbledon, not conveying things to yourselves?

ARYNA SABALENKA: I don't think so. I think we all kind of look together. I feel like we very well informed. Once again, I hope we going to sit at a table, we going to negotiate something, and we'll never have to come back to boycotting media, boycotting any tournament. I really hope to get to something good.

Q. I'm sure you are aware that Elena has a chance to topple you at the top of the rankings. How much was it a cause for concern on your side?

ARYNA SABALENKA: I mean, at this point in my career, I don't really focus on the ranking. I think I learned throughout the years, the moment you start focusing on your ranking, things going to - how you say - slip away? Is that how you say, right? Sorry, guys.

I'm just focusing on myself. I mean, whatever she going to do here, it's her life, it's her story. I'm focusing on myself, my story.

I mean, hopefully by the end of this tournament I can stay on the top of the game.

Q. At the end of Roland Garros, at some point you said, Right now I just feel like quitting tennis.

ARYNA SABALENKA: Yeah. Stupid question, stupid answer. Like, how you feel now? Of course, I felt terrible.

Q. How long did it feel like not quitting tennis? How do you get there?

ARYNA SABALENKA: Couple bags of chips, some sweets, and I'm good to go (laughter).

I don't know. I think couple days. I just need to leave the place where everything happened and then I feel little bit better (smiling).

Q. I noticed that you didn't tease your kit in advance of this tournament. Did you ask Nike not to put your dress on sale?

ARYNA SABALENKA: It's not on sale?

Q. As far as I know, no.

ARYNA SABALENKA: Oh, wow. That's interesting. Usually they put on sale everything right straight away.

It feel like here it's nothing special, it's the same dress. Whenever they decide to put it on sale, that's on them. I always like to reveal my dress and to put it on sale.

I don't mind if younger - not younger - if other players buy it. For me, it's success. For me it tells something that people want to wear what I'm wearing. It's actually good. I like seeing players buying my dress. It's a good sign.

Last one. Sorry, unfortunately I have to go. I'm so sorry, guys.

Q. 44-year-old Serena Williams making a comeback. How far do you think she can go in the tournament?

ARYNA SABALENKA: I don't know how far. I'm super excited to see her play. That's incredible. I heard she said she's doing that for her kids to see her play. They really get excited about that.

It's amazing what she's doing. Also it's Serena Williams, everyone was talking about that. She's bringing more eyes on tennis. It's a good thing for tennis. I'm really excited to see her play.

Thank you, guys.