US OPEN

August 31, 2026

Aryna Sabalenka

Press Conference

A. SABALENKA/C. Osorio

6-2, 6-4

THE MODERATOR: Congratulations on the first-round win. If you could, could you assess your level of play today.

ARYNA SABALENKA: I think I played great. I'm happy with my performance. She's a tough opponent, make you work really hard to get every point. So I'm happy that I was able to close the match in straight sets.

THE MODERATOR: Questions.

Q. I'm curious, with the week leading up to the Open, there are so many events and everything, it can be kind of physically draining. On top of being the top seed here and among the favorites, how do you balance the energy, especially with the energy that New York brings into your tennis? And then looking over the next two weeks, how do you kind of maintain a steady level with your energy?

ARYNA SABALENKA: What is the question there?

Q. You had so much going on last week, and now it's just focus on tennis, and there is a bit of pressure.

ARYNA SABALENKA: Why do you think that the week before wasn't focused on tennis?

Q. Oh, I think you were. I just think you were busy with a lot of events.

ARYNA SABALENKA: It's like my hobby outside of tennis, the whole schedule we plan is all around tennis, so all of those events is not drawing me in any way.

And all people that I work, all brands that I work with, I choose them very carefully. I have to be really comfortable around those people just so in that case I'm not drawing my energy when I'm surrounded by them. So I'm really enjoying my time with my brands, with people who works there.

I have fun. It's like my hobby outside of my tennis schedule, and it actually gives me so much energy.

Q. You look different today than last week, orange instead of black.

ARYNA SABALENKA: To be honest, I didn't know that I have a day dress (smiling). I thought I have a black dress with orange underneath. I figured when I went to Nike that I actually have day session and night session, which is just like an orange for the day.

Q. So it's not just the black didn't win in mixed doubles. It's just...

ARYNA SABALENKA: No, no, I don't believe in that stuff.

Q. Tell me if I'm wrong, but in the second set it looked like you stepped back off the baseline a little bit. Were you trying to make any adjustments in the second set? What was going through your mind? It was a very solid first.

ARYNA SABALENKA: I think she just step in a little bit more and played a little bit more aggressive, and like, forced me to go back. As I had opportunities, I tried to step in.

She played great. She brought the fight, and she battled really well, and I just tried to stay as aggressive as possible. Sometimes I had to go back just to put the ball in play and move forward as possible.

Q. What is your strategy for bringing the crowd into a match? Because in a place like New York, that can backfire, it can work for you. Do you think about that strategically, or is it just something that happens spontaneously?

ARYNA SABALENKA: I have a long relationship with New York. For so many years, I think I was able to build really good connection with people. And by sharing myself on social media and just on the ground, I feel like people feel really connected.

I hope they're going to come and support me. If not, it's only going to give me energy to fight against them or to get the win, but I feel like most of the time I got them on my side, which I'm super grateful.

Q. How would you describe the balance between reflecting on your best results, winning championships here, and then more recent tournaments where maybe it didn't go so well?

ARYNA SABALENKA: How do I reflect?

Q. Yes. I mean, which do you channel toward your matches now: Things that you've done lately or things you did a while ago when you succeeded at the top of your game?

ARYNA SABALENKA: I think the good thing for me is not looking back no matter what, if it's good or bad, because I feel a good result can also stop you from performing well because you're basically focusing on the past, you know. So I never, like, look back.

If I win the tournament or lose the tournament, for me today is a new day and I have to be focused just staying in the moment.