CHINA OPEN

September 29, 2026

Aryna Sabalenka

Press Conference

THE MODERATOR: Aryna, welcome back to the China Open. Talk us through how you're feeling and your preparation for the tournament.

ARYNA SABALENKA: Yeah, I feel great. I'm happy to be back. Kind of like been missing playing some matches. Cannot wait to start playing the tournament.

THE MODERATOR: Questions.

Q. After all the slams now complete, with this stretch of Asia tournaments coming up, what are you hoping to get out of the final stretch of the season with the pressure of slams behind you?

ARYNA SABALENKA: Say it again.

Q. The Grand Slams are done for the year. What are you hoping to get out of the Asia Swing with the Grand Slams being done?

ARYNA SABALENKA: To be honest, I'm really excited to play the last, I don't know, probably who knows three events of the year. At the US Open it was kind of like the moment when I start to felt healthier and stronger. So I really enjoyed playing tennis. I got back to my mindset. Physically I got better.

I'm pretty excited. I feel like the middle part of the season - not I feel like - obviously didn't go that well. I struggled little bit with different stuff. At the US Open I start to enjoy tennis again because of, like, being healthy mentally and physically.

So now I feel like I'm fresher. I'm kind of like sad that we are in the last portion of the season. So I'm excited to play more matches, play my tennis.

Q. What do you think did click in New York to kind of give you this energy, this focus? Was it just health or was it other stuff, as well, that you're hoping to carry on?

ARYNA SABALENKA: Well, I mean, when you physically can rely on your body, it really feels like a relief. You feel better to go out there and fight. I was really enjoying fight again. I think that was the biggest click. Mentally it make me strong again.

Q. Compared to years previously, coming into the Asia Swing, have you always felt this fresh or this healthy? I don't want to say it's a new thing, but is this kind of rejuvenating?

ARYNA SABALENKA: I have to say that previously my season were more consistent. I was playing a lot of matches. So getting to the China, even last year I had to only keep one tournament because I wasn't physically ready to play. Kind of like barely making it to the end of the season.

This time I feel like because I didn't play that many matches, I feel fresh. Like, I'm excited to play.

Q. I'm curious about some of your experiences in Milan. Does participation in that environment help your overall life balance?

ARYNA SABALENKA: I love fashion world. I love experience something new. Walking the runway was one of my dreams. I feel like I checked this box. I really enjoyed it so much.

This kind of experience really helps me in my job to be fresh, to be excited, I don't know, just overall to love my job. Let's say like that.

Milan was great. It was a lot of training and then lot of fashion stuff, a lot of pizza and pasta, good food. I really enjoyed my week there.

Q. I feel like people these days are very judgmental on players who are active on social media, especially when they don't perform so well on court. Do you think there is any correlation between being active on social media in this area and being a good player? Does it take away from the player's concentration, or there is no correlation at all between the two?

ARYNA SABALENKA: It's okay. I feel like people judge others based on their own feelings. It has nothing to do with us. If they think that they wouldn't be able to do that, it doesn't mean that we cannot do it.

For me, it has nothing to do with social media. People thinks that like, okay, she's on social media, she doesn't practice. In reality you spend there, I don't know, 30 minutes a day.

I don't see how it can be distracted. If you love it, if you have fun with it, if you want to share yourself on social media, you have to do it.

I'm at that stage we're like people are going to judge you either way. She's active or she's not active. She's like that and that. It's like you're never good enough for people. I feel like why would I even care about them. I don't give a single heck (smiling).

Q. You mentioned having to do a lot of training in Milan. Talk me through that. What did you have to do to train to walk down the runway?

ARYNA SABALENKA: No, no. 'Training' I mean tennis.

Q. You were doing tennis while you were in Milan?

ARYNA SABALENKA: Of course. But also to walk on the runway, you have to practice. I was so tight. I had to message a bit all of my model friends. I am like, Okay, girls, put me in one message all of your experience throughout your whole life. I have to do it well.

Q. What was the best tip you got from your model friends?

ARYNA SABALENKA: There is so many tips, to be honest, I got. I feel like the probably best one, do not look in people's face. Just enjoy yourself. I don't know.

There's different kind of, like, tips on how to walk. I think the main one was like do not look at people because you're going to get distracted and frozen. I was just walking, trying to make it till the end (smiling).

Q. Since you come to Beijing, how are you feeling about playing in Beijing? Is there any place you want to visit or any food you want to try?

ARYNA SABALENKA: I love being in Beijing. I don't know. I feel like there's so many places to visit. To be honest, not so much time. Where we stay, I feel like it's quite far.

But I think I will go and shop (smiling). Then I will ask probably Qinwen where to go. I feel like I can trust her recommendations.