A. SABALENKA/C. Gauff
1-6, 6-4, 6-4
THE MODERATOR: Advancing to the finals in the 2024 Wuhan Open. Please share your thoughts on today's match.
ARYNA SABALENKA: Well, wow, just as I said yesterday, was really great battle, tough fight. I don't know. Somehow I was able to turn around this match and to get this win. I'm really happy with this win. It was really important one.
Yeah, it was very difficult battle. I'm really glad and really happy that I was able to win this match.
THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.
Q. As someone who has struggled with her serve in the past, what did it feel like to be on the receiving end of someone struggling with their serve, playing well otherwise off the ground?
ARYNA SABALENKA: I was playing that match thinking, like, Well, girl, I feel you. I feel you like nobody else.
I know what she's going through. This is really difficult. This is really tough. But I know that if she'll be able to overcome this serve situation, she already one of the best players, but I'm pretty sure she's going to be one of the greatest players.
I mean, how did it feel? At some point in the second set when she was keep breaking me, I was like, Okay, I still have chances on her serve. I was just trying to put as much pressure on her as I can so she would go even crazier on her serve.
Yeah, I think she just dropped her level on her serve. I just felt like, Okay, I still have some chances in this match. I was pushing myself so hard to put balls back on the other side as much as I could.
At the beginning, I couldn't do anything. I didn't feel any strokes. It felt like, Whatever. I kind of like accepted I already lost this match. I was like, Okay, whatever. If she's going to give me chances, I'll try my best. If not, whatever, I'll fly back home, enjoy a little rest time and prepare for the Finals.
But yeah, I'm happy I was able to turn around this match.
Q. How different tactically did you play first and second set? Was it just a matter of execution, like what you were trying to do in the first set worked in the second set, or did you feel you changed different things in the second?
ARYNA SABALENKA: Honestly, I think in the first set she was just, like, crushing it. Whatever she was doing, everything was flying in. Everything was so aggressive. I didn't have much opportunities.
In the second set, she dropped her speed a little bit. I was able to step in and put so much pressure on her. I was able to go in the net, finish points there, put even more pressure on her.
Yeah, I think it was just a matter of who's going to take these first shots, like who is going to control the point. I think that's what changed in the second set. That's what changed in the third set, as well.
Q. When you went on this journey on your serve, now that you're out of it, would you say it's more of a mental thing or technical thing or just really rebuilding that shot for you?
ARYNA SABALENKA: For me?
Q. Yes.
ARYNA SABALENKA: Well, I would say first it started as technical issue. But then when you serving so many double-faults, you kind of stand there thinking like, Is this going to happen again or I'm able to put this serve in?
Then it became mental issue. Then you just have to deal with both, which is really difficult and tough. You have to be really mentally strong enough to overcome this thing.
I think, yeah, I just start this journey with biomechanic guy. I just got little belief that, okay, my serve is still there. I was just keep working, keep trying, keep serving. Keep double-faulting sometimes, but already with understanding what is going on there without thinking if it's going to happen again or not.
It's a long process. I'm still going through it. But, yeah, it's both. Honestly, it's both.
Q. The victory just now actually marks your 16th consecutive victory here in Wuhan. You have so many supporters here. Do you feel like you are playing on home turf here in Wuhan? You're going to face either Zheng Qinwen or Wang Xinyu tomorrow. What do you feel like playing Chinese players in the final?
ARYNA SABALENKA: You know what, lately, I don't know, life been challenging me with playing home-country players, starting from Cincinnati. I mean, in the finals. I kind of like ready for that.
I know obviously they going to support either of them more than me. But I know that I still got some people here who support me.
This tournament feels like playing at home. Being the third time in the finals, hopefully I'll get this beautiful trophy tomorrow.
But no expectations on support from the crowd. I have my team. I have my family. I have a lot of people who support me around the world. I'll just focus on that.
Q. We know you like Chinese fried rice. Chinese fried rice has many flavors: sweet, spicy, chicken and beef. Do you have a favorite?
ARYNA SABALENKA: Spicy chicken, yeah. Spicy chicken. That's my favorite.
You want to prepare something for my meal so I'm not going to be able to play tomorrow (laughter)? Trying to predict my order tonight, like doing something? Okay, I'm not going to eat chicken (laughter).
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports