US OPEN

September 10, 2026

Aryna Sabalenka

Press Conference

A. SABALENKA/J. Pegula

7-5, 6-2

THE MODERATOR: Congratulations. Brilliant display of tennis tonight. Your thoughts.

ARYNA SABALENKA: Yeah, I'm super happy that I was able to play on such high level, especially against Jess. In the last matches we played, she's been able to push me so far, and it was really tough to get a win against her.

To get this win in straight sets today really impressed me, to be honest. I'm really happy.

THE MODERATOR: Questions.

Q. Great matchup there. You said on the court you were desperate to get that win. Just talk about your mindset coming into tonight and also looking ahead at the final.

ARYNA SABALENKA: Yeah, I was super desperate. I lost tough match on grass against Jess, and I wasn't really performing well in the middle part of the season. So it kind of like feels for me, talking about Grand Slams, like a last push of the season. I wanted it badly to go to the finals, and of course, I want to go all the way.

The mentality was just I'm ready. I'm ready for whatever it's going to take to get the win.

Q. Jess was in here before, and she described your level as insanely high. She said she thought it was probably the best match you've played all season. I was wondering if you felt that way, and if not, is there any other match where you felt like you played better?

ARYNA SABALENKA: I mean, I think this season, especially the beginning of season, obviously I played a lot of incredible matches on a really high level, but I think today I kind of, like, I really performed well. I felt like whatever decision I would make, it is the right decision.

So I would definitely say that against Jess probably today, compared to the last matches we played, it was definitely the better level from me.

Q. Jutta Leerdam was in your box, the speed skater. What's your relationship? Are you friends? What do you think of her Olympic pedigree on the ice?

ARYNA SABALENKA: That's incredible. I've been following her for a while, and I saw her winning Olympics, and it was really inspiring video, like, the emotions, how hard it was for her, and it's really tough mentally.

Their sport is really tough. Like, you have -- not, like, just Olympics, but it's the biggest one, it's Olympics, and it's once in four years.

I could see all of the emotions she went through, and I just got inspired by her. I love her personality. Yeah, I've been a fan basically for a while. To see her in my box, yeah, that was -- couldn't dream for more.

Q. How much was the match in Berlin motivating for you? Jess was joking like she maybe did something to make you mad, how well you played. Maybe it was the 6-0 in Berlin that pissed you off and made you inspired to kick her ass in return today.

ARYNA SABALENKA: No, I just think that in Berlin she played incredible. Not much I could do. It really make me feel like I have little chances today in a way, but also, I knew that I have to be focused from the beginning until the end. I think that really helped me to be that focused and to perform at that level.

But, Jess, come on, cannot say that (laughing). Yeah, better not to make me mad (laughing).

Q. You clinched the World No. 1 ranking here in 2023. Do you remember your next match -- it was against Qinwen Zheng -- and how difficult that was for you to focus on that after already reaching No. 1?

ARYNA SABALENKA: I don't remember. I'm glad I don't have great memory.

Q. Well, you did beat her, and then you finally lost to Coco in the final.

ARYNA SABALENKA: Well, not so good I believe to become World No. 1 here in New York (laughing).

Q. Speaking of the World No. 1, it probably looks a little weird to people who don't understand how it works, you get here No. 1, you could win the tournament, and leave not being No. 1.

ARYNA SABALENKA: I don't care.

Q. But do you have regular friends or fans who ask you how this works, Explain this to us?

ARYNA SABALENKA: I mean, joke aside, I really understand about how tough it is to reach the World No. 1. It's a lot of work, and yeah, that was one of my goals, but right now not much I could do. I didn't really perform well in the middle of the season.

Elena took it over and played really well, and she took away No. 1 position. But not much I could do about that, but I can only focus on myself and just stay in the moment and trying to do my best right now just so I keep it tight and maybe I will take it back from her.

But, yeah, it does feel a little bit weird. You can perform well in the tournament but still be taken away No. 1 position.

So it's okay. It's sport. I love that. That's the beauty of sport, right? Like, everyone chasing everyone, and it's all about little things that you improve and you get better at.

Q. Aryna, you were just talking about beating Jess over here. What do you think specifically matches up so well for you with her, and especially here? You've beaten her three times now over here.

ARYNA SABALENKA: I think definitely the surface helps. It's quite, like, fast courts, but also bouncy a little bit. It was really tough to play against Jess on grass.

Here I feel like on hard court I have a bit more advantage just because of the speed of the courts and the bounce. I think that really gives me more possibilities of, like, pushing her a bit back, so maybe that's why.

Q. You said the other day that after Australia last year, you learned kind of to tune out the noise a little bit better. Will that change anything in sort of these next 36 hours going into the final? Do you do things differently now leading in?

ARYNA SABALENKA: No, I keep the same routine. As I said, last couple of months really teach me how to shut down the noise from outside. I think that's what's the meaning behind all of those tough lessons to finally learn how to stay focused on myself and forget about the outside noise.

It sounds simple, but it's not really simple to do sometimes. Nothing going to change for me.

Q. You've had such success here. Four finals in a row. You've come into this tournament sometimes when you've had great seasons, but you haven't won majors. I'm just wondering if the desperation that you've mentioned earlier is maybe something that works in your favor? You get to this tournament, and a lot of other players are tired or can't deal with New York?

ARYNA SABALENKA: Well, I don't know about that, but I have to say that I just love New York and I love being here, and I love the energy of the city. I think that's what drives me. That's what really inspires me and pushes me to keep going.

Q. Jess said the way you played tonight, it might be that nobody could beat you if you play that way again, but you do have another match. We don't know who the opponent will be. What are your thoughts on, first, Elena and then Coco and what you would need to do in terms of your level and their games?

ARYNA SABALENKA: Well, both are incredible players, and I had really big finals against both this year.

If it's Elena, it's going to be a really -- it's going to be really tough match. She's a big server. She really improved over the years on the baseline game, so it's going to be physically and mentally tough match.

But, as I said, I'm ready for the fight. I'm ready to do everything to get the win, so I'm excited for that match.

If it's going to be Coco, I need my revenge for the US Open -- I don't remember when which year it was, but I need my revenge. She's a challenging player as well. She's moving well. She's serving much better. She really makes you work for every point.

I love that challenge. I love that physical challenge playing against Coco, and I'm also excited facing her.

Q. And your level based on what Jess said...

ARYNA SABALENKA: I can say that I feel confident and I feel mentally and physically really strong right now.