US OPEN

August 28, 2026

Aryna Sabalenka

Press Conference

THE MODERATOR: Welcome. Questions.

Q. Aryna, welcome back to New York. For all of your Grand Slam singles success, you were able to call yourself a Grand Slam champion the first time here in doubles with Elise Mertens. Then you won the second. How important was that tournament and having that Grand Slam feeling, Grand Slam winning feeling, for the first time here in New York as you carried that on to your singles career and what New York means to you?

ARYNA SABALENKA: It was amazing feeling, especially back then. I couldn't break through first week in singles, so it was really good to stay till the very end in the tournament and just feel the atmosphere of being in the finals. To get the win, it was very special moment. It was a special moment, and it really helped me to, you know, to keep pushing myself and keep believing that I can even do it in singles.

So it was a very big moment.

Q. What are your thoughts on going for your third straight title and perhaps joining only Serena and Chrissie Evert?

ARYNA SABALENKA: Well, I will focus on myself. I'll try to do my very best, and we'll see what happens with the end of this tournament.

Q. How would you describe their place in history and the fact that those two accomplished it?

ARYNA SABALENKA: They're the biggest, and they're legends. I was growing up looking up to them, and I loved the way they dominate the tour. So if I would be able to put my name kind of, like, slightly next to them, that means a lot to me.

Q. Whenever someone at your level doesn't have the results the last couple of tournaments, people want to say, you know, what's wrong with Aryna? You did look frustrated your last match in Cincinnati. Is anything wrong with your game?

ARYNA SABALENKA: Maybe there's something wrong with people (smiling).

Q. Do you feel as confident as you were last year when you came here?

ARYNA SABALENKA: Always confident.

Q. How do you feel about your game the last few months? Because it has been a while since your last title in Miami. This has been a really dominant few years for you. How do you tell yourself that there's not much reason to panic or be worried about...

ARYNA SABALENKA: Well, that's the beauty of a sport. Throw tough challenges at me, I will come back only stronger. It wasn't the best period. I don't want to defend myself, but obviously I just don't want to talk about that period. I've been dealing with several things.

But who cares, right? Yeah, I didn't perform my best. These tough lessons definitely going to make me way, way stronger and working even harder.

I work on my mental side of the game. I was trying to reset my mind and to come back stronger, so it's only going to make me stronger. It's only a matter of time for me to come back.

Q. I wanted to ask you about your kit, your Nike kit. It seems like there's a great mix of sports there with basketball and tennis. What do you love about your kit, what do you think about it? What do you think of that sort of bringing together different sports to showcase at the Open?

ARYNA SABALENKA: I love it. This year it was super special for Nike team. It was always related to different sports. Surfing for Australian Open, ballet for Roland Garros, cricket for Wimbledon. Now it's basketball and we're in New York. Isn't it the perfect fit?

I love basically everything about my outfit. I love that it's different. I love that this outfit is bold. Whatever people saying on Internet, I heard they probably didn't like it, I don't really -- it's like it's funny for me, because when Nike was, like, pretty simple and standard, they were complaining. When Nike went really cool and fun and trying to get back, they always complain.

So who cares about people, right? All matters for me is that I love it. For me, it's super fun. Plus it's really cool for pictures, so... (Smiling.)

Q. There are so many events you have done over this past week. You spoke to Vogue. So many different events with sponsors. How much do you enjoy that aspect of the US Open? Because it feels really unique in terms of buildup to the tournament.

ARYNA SABALENKA: I love it. Yeah, it's been a busy week, but I managed to practice, I managed to do my recovery, and on free time, maybe instead of going for dinner with my team, I went for dinner with my partners, and it was really fun, great times. I was talking to Vogue. It's all amazing experience for me. If you would tell me ten years ago that, oh, by the way, do you know that ten years from now you're going to be talking to Vogue, you're going to be doing all these cool events, I wouldn't believe.

For me, it's super fun and easy to do.

Q. The US Open announced the 100-plus million player compensation and also the Grand Slam advisory council before the tournament. You're someone who's talked about wanting more revenue share for the players. What was your reaction to them making that step?

ARYNA SABALENKA: We're super happy to see the good fit back, and that we're finally getting to the point where we wanted to be at the very beginning. Hopefully we're not gonna boycott media or tournament or anything in the future. We all going to be happy, and that's all we wanted from the very beginning.

Q. You played with Novak doubles. Can you lead us through all this experience with, let's say, champion doubles? Do you consider ever, because you were family friends, do you ever consider to come to Serbia and Montenegro for vacation for a weekend, for example?

ARYNA SABALENKA: Maybe one day I will. Why not? Being friends with Novak for so long and never visit Serbia. It's kind of like weird, right? Or maybe not really. But maybe one day I will come.

But it was very fun playing with him, and also talking a lot of tennis and learning from him in that match. It was amazing experience. I just wish we would do a little bit better than we did (smiling). I'm happy there is a second chance.

Q. Of course all the Grand Slams are very special, but when you come to the US Open, what's the first thing you think of that makes this tournament special?

ARYNA SABALENKA: The crowd. For sure, the crowd. If they cheer for you, this is the best feeling I have ever experienced on the big stadiums.

So definitely the crowd makes this place super special.