Aryna Sabalenka

Press Conference

A. SABALENKA/L. Noskova

6-3, 6-4

THE MODERATOR: Congrats. Your third final here. Give us your thoughts on your performance.

ARYNA SABALENKA: Yeah, super happy with my performance. I think I really played great tennis. I was serving well. I was playing well.

I like the way I put her under pressure on her serve, and of course happy to close this match in straight sets.

THE MODERATOR: Questions.

Q. I watched you on Tennis Channel just now talking about your performance in finals. You were joking, but it sounds to me like you're disappointed that you haven't gotten more out of the finals during your career.

ARYNA SABALENKA: (Laughing.) Well, the idea was to give one-word answer, but I just gave up. (Laughter.)

Sorry. Now I'm serious.

Q. My question is: You were already pretty dominant, 80 weeks at No. 1, four slams, always in the finals of these tournaments. Do you think you need to unlock more than anything else is just getting more out of yourself in finals, big finals in particular?

ARYNA SABALENKA: I just want to focus, if I make it to the final, I want to make sure that I get it, I get the trophy. You know, I'm so done of losing these big finals. It felt like even though players were playing incredible tennis in those finals, I feel like I had so many opportunities that I didn't use.

And right now my mentality, if I make it to the final, I'll go out there and, you know, I'll do everything I can and everything I cannot to get that trophy.

Q. Looking back at the 2023 final, do you remember more what you did or what Rybakina did?

ARYNA SABALENKA: You know, the thing is I don't remember anything.

No, I remember that it was the tiebreak, like, really tight tiebreak, and I remember I had set points, and I double-faulted. Then it was very -- I feel like I remember that I was one break up. Then she broke me back. Then it was a tiebreak, crazy tiebreak. Then I lost the first set. And things didn't really go well in the second set. That's what I remember.

You know, like, I feel like against Elena, it's always super-aggressive, it's all about the first few balls in every point. You know, if you dominate in those two points, I feel like most likely you're gonna win the point.

It's very aggressive, very fast tennis. Yeah, if it's her, I'm excited, actually.

Q. Just about what you just said, how difficult is it to balance staying loose and then also be, like, okay, I have to do it in the first two or three points when you're playing Elena?

ARYNA SABALENKA: I think by focusing on your game plan, on small little things in each point, it's help you to stay loose and also, like, ready to go. I think that's the best way to approach these kind of matches.

Q. Hindrances, there has been, like, three, weird, dramatic hindrance calls at this tournament. You had one obviously in Australia.

ARYNA SABALENKA: I think I saw the one yesterday with Daniil.

Q. Why do you think we're seeing so many of them this year?

ARYNA SABALENKA: Well, I don't know. Maybe just ref -- actually, I feel like what happened to Daniil, he asked for Video Review, right? What happened to me, I just feel like the referee wanted to, you know, show that she's working there, she's aware of all of that stuff.

I rewatched my video, and I felt like there was nothing, like, even Elina was shocked there. She was, like, What happened?

So I don't know. I feel like -- I don't know. It's tricky one.

I feel like, with me, it was unnecessary for the referee to call that one. About Daniil yesterday, I mean, theoretically he did the move, but I don't think it actually bothered Daniil that much.

Q. Do you think it has anything to do with the Video Review being so common now that players can just kind of ask, like, well, just check and see?

ARYNA SABALENKA: What I think is really awkward is you can actually finish the point and then ask for that. Because if you really got bothered, then you should stop immediately and ask for the Video Review, giving players opportunity to finish the point.

It's kind of, like, if he would win that point, he wouldn't probably ask for Video Review, obviously, right? I don't really think that's the way it should be, like, if he got bothered, then ask for the Video Review straightaway.

Q. Adding the things you have added to your game in the last year, and even over the offseason, dropshots, net play, et cetera, do you think it makes you better than you ever were this season, adding that kind of stuff? And do you feel there are other things you'd still like to add? Is it still a work in progress, in your opinion?

ARYNA SABALENKA: Well, I want to have a better quality in all of those shots that I improved over the years. But I feel like if you want to be on the top, you always have to search for something, for little details to add to your game so you can be really unpredictable. And, yeah, to have all those tools in your game, that's, you know, definitely gives you so much of advantage over other players.

Definitely, compared to myself a couple years ago, I'm definitely much better player, more complete player, and I know that if my plan A is not working, I have plan B and C. That's what we have been really working a lot over the last couple of years.

Q. You said what it would be like to face Elena in the final. What about Elina?

ARYNA SABALENKA: Yeah, she's incredible player. To be honest, to see the level she was able to bring on-court after pregnancy, that's so inspiring and so cool to see.

All of the matches we played against each other, it's always been, like, really tough battles. It's always been a show and a great level.

If it's going to be Elina, I'm also excited, because I know it's going to be a battle and a show. I'm super excited.