US OPEN

September 8, 2026

Aryna Sabalenka

Press Conference

A. SABALENKA/L. Noskova

7-6, 3-6, 7-6

THE MODERATOR: Congratulations. Fight till the finish, punctuated by that ace. Your thoughts?

ARYNA SABALENKA: Yeah, that was a battle. That was a real fight. I'm super happy with the way I handled myself, and also, of course, to get the win. It was really a tough match.

THE MODERATOR: Questions.

Q. I imagine it feels good to win a match on a winner, but with a second-serve ace, what was going through your mind achieving that?

ARYNA SABALENKA: Yeah, I feel like I got lucky. I think she expected a kick to her backhand. I got lucky she didn't read my serve.

I'm happy I finished the match obviously with second-serve ace. I couldn't be happier. Yeah, it was really tough, tight battle. I'm just super happy that I really stayed aggressive throughout the whole match, and I really trusted my shots.

Q. We know that whole ranking thing is out of your control, and so far you're doing everything you've had to do. Would you be okay if Elena became No. 1 but you got your third US Open?

ARYNA SABALENKA: Yes, I'll be more than happy.

Q. Would that mean more to you?

ARYNA SABALENKA: Yes, three-peat. Sounds great.

Q. You said in your interview after the match, you thought that was it, the match was over. What would make you think that? Because of the score or you felt she was playing better?

ARYNA SABALENKA: I just felt at some point in the third set she was definitely serving better than me and putting so much pressure on me, but I'm glad that I kind of, like, threw that thought away and I was able to focus point by point and, like, literally just trying to build something bigger in that moment.

I got, not lucky, but I'm happy the way I broke her serve at 3-4. I think I really played great intensity level of tennis, and that really gave me so much confidence that I still can get the win in this match.

Q. We thought from the commentary booth that you were having less interaction with the box.

ARYNA SABALENKA: Less?

Q. That you were talking less, making less eye contact with your team. We wondered whether that was something you decided in advance so that you were trying to get through this match more on your own.

ARYNA SABALENKA: Well, I was actually having so much eye contact with them, but I'm glad that it looked like that from the outside. I was so focused, but sometimes I don't even have to look at them. I hear them. I know what they would say. I was still looking a lot, to be honest, in my box (smiling).

Q. When you're in the position you've been in the last couple of years where people, there is a lot of chatter, people talking about your ranking, about your results, does it ever feel sort of like a me-against-the-world type of feeling for you?

ARYNA SABALENKA: No. I was just focused on myself. For me, it's just funny to see how people are charging someone, guessing, doubting, I don't know, coming up with random theories about someone.

For me, it's just been funny to see how people are, I don't know, crazy about someone else.

Q. You mentioned the three-peat before. Did you learn anything from the experience of having that on your mind a couple of years ago in Australia, that you've taken it into this experience with an opportunity that a lot of players don't get?

ARYNA SABALENKA: I'm just super happy that I put myself in the position where I have chance to go for three-peat, even though I'm still far away from that. What I learned from Australia is it's really important to shut down all of the noises and having that on the back of your mind. It's nothing wrong about that, just as long as you're focusing on yourself, as long as you're ready to fight, basically.

Q. You're used to playing Americans here.

ARYNA SABALENKA: That's my karma. (Laughter.)

Q. Your next opponent, we don't know which American, but we know it will be an American. I'd like to ask you about each of the two of them, starting with Jess. What are your thoughts on the challenge it would be to face Jess?

ARYNA SABALENKA: Yeah, Jessica really challenging player to play against. I can say that she really improved a lot in last couple of years, improved her game, really putting me under so much pressure.

But I'm loving playing against her, because it's a battle, because it's a fight, and I love being under pressure and going through tough challenges. So playing against her, it's going to be really high-intensity level of tennis. I'm super excited if it's gonna be her.

Q. And if it's Emma?

ARYNA SABALENKA: It's been a while since we played against each other, but she's great, playing really smart tennis, and also with the variety of her shots. It's been really tough to play against her in the last matches that I face her, because every point, you have to work really hard to get the point. So physically, it's not easy match to handle, but as I said before, I'm ready for it.

Q. It feels like since Miami you played and maybe not come out on top of some tight three-set matches. This one was very, very tight. Do you feel this particular win gives you even more of a boost, or maybe you thought it doesn't change too much for you?

ARYNA SABALENKA: I have to say that knowing that physically my body can handle these matches again, I'm super happy with that. And of course these kind of tight matches gives you so much confidence that you're back and you're ready to do anything it takes to get the win. So this match definitely gives me boost of energy and motivation.

Q. I think the last two times you were in the US Open semifinals you played Navarro and then Pegula.

ARYNA SABALENKA: Actually, that's right.

Q. Do you remember those?

ARYNA SABALENKA: Yeah, I just remember it's been really high level of tennis, and I really enjoyed being out there and playing against them and fighting for my dream.

It's amazing to play great level of matches. You know, it's something that you're dreaming about, and when you actually can come out on court and perform well, just really emotionally gives you so much.

Q. You said after the match you felt speechless. I was wondering when the last time you felt like that after a match was, and what that match was like and if there were similarities?

ARYNA SABALENKA: I feel like every time when you overcoming something, you feel speechless. Every time you're down with a break or you're facing the match point but then at the end you get the win, always speechless, because at that moment you feel like that's it, but being able to overcome that feeling and to get the win, that just like, what can you say? You're just super happy at the moment.

Q. One question about the match. In terms of raw power, I don't think there are many players that can go toe to toe. Maybe Linda is one of them. Was it harder for you to play against someone who plays similar to you, and maybe was it more entertaining you didn't have to hammer down her in five, ten shots, and it was similar game again?

ARYNA SABALENKA: I don't know. But she's definitely one of those players who can really handle the power and actually hit from back. Big server.

It's challenging, but I don't know. I enjoy playing any kind of players when it's like more time, but you have to, like, stay longer in the rallies.

I also enjoy that when it's, like, super quick and it's kind of like who's going to overpower whom, it's also really fun and enjoyable.