THE CHAMPIONSHIPS

June 29, 2026

Aryna Sabalenka

Press Conference

A. SABALENKA/T. Kostivic

6-2, 6-3

THE MODERATOR: Aryna, give us your thoughts, first day back at Wimbledon, good match. How are you feeling?

ARYNA SABALENKA: Yeah, I'm happy to be back. I'm happy to play on the Centre Court. Of course, happy with the game today.

Yeah, couldn't be more happy.

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. This was your opponent's first time playing a world No. 1 player. Do you remember the first time you played a world No. 1? It was Shenzhen 2018 against Simona Halep.

ARYNA SABALENKA: I remember. That was a very tough experience.

It's not easy when you play Centre Court against the world No. 1, things are not going your way. It's tough to handle. It's experience. Everyone been there. Everyone went through that. It's all about how you recover and what you take from that match.

Q. How do you do the transition from clay to grass? Do you work on special things on your game, your movement? How did you like the atmosphere today?

ARYNA SABALENKA: A lot of work on staying low. Obviously it's a very short and quick transition. Yeah, I guess it's a lot of work on handling really low balls and coming to the net, approaching the net a bit more. A lot of work on the serve.

Yeah, I felt good today. As I said, couldn't be more happier with that performance, with a straight.

Q. Before the match Teodora said she was excited to play you, wanted to test herself against you. Do you keep up with quotes of your opponents before you play them? When you were maybe in their position, how excited were you to play top players?

ARYNA SABALENKA: I have different information about her quote. I just figured after the match what she said. It's so funny. Whatever.

I think she said she want to see if I can handle her power (smiling). So scary. It's good that she has that self-belief. It's a good thing to have.

I'm not really watching to be honest my opponents' quotes. Sometimes quotes get very tricky. Sometimes they can be taken out of the context. I'm really trying to separate myself from that side of the game.

Q. During the tournament do you try to practice a lot with other top players or competitors or do you stay away from that because you might potentially play them at some point?

ARYNA SABALENKA: I don't mind practicing with doesn't matter who is that. If it's Jelena, if it's Iga, if it's Pegula, someone who's tough out there and I can face them. I don't mind that, to be honest.

I think it's all about which coach is friends with whom, then somehow... I don't know, we keep the same players, the ones I'm hitting with. I don't mind practicing. I can practice with anyone, to be honest.

Q. You have published a few blogs on your channel. For you, it's important to have a few things outside the tennis court?

ARYNA SABALENKA: I love having blog, having so much fun with it. I like to share myself a bit deeper. On Instagram it's short, like pictures, you cannot really share that much of yourself. In blog, you can kind of talk with your fans.

I'm having so much fun. I think it's important to share your thoughts on different topics and just show yourself as a person and show your life a bit deeper. Having so much fun. I think it's really important.

I believe actually nowadays more players have their blogs. It's really good to see. It's cool for fans to connect with all of us.