A. SABALENKA/Zheng Qinwen
6-3, 6-5-7, 6-3
THE MODERATOR: Welcome to the singles champion for 2024 Wuhan Open's press conference. Congratulations, Aryna. Please share your thoughts on today.
ARYNA SABALENKA: Yeah, it was tough match. I was up with a break in the second set, then I just lost my focus for a little bit. It became three-set match.
But it was a great level match, it was a great fight. Of course, I'm super happy to win this beautiful trophy.
THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.
Q. What did you think she did differently, if at all, to make this match a lot more competitive than the three matches that you had before?
ARYNA SABALENKA: Well, I mean, first of all I would say the conditions are probably a little bit better for her here. It's much slower and the ball's getting heavier. She has more - I don't know - things to do on the court when it's slower.
Honestly, I felt like I just lost little bit focus and I let her come back in the match. I got a little bit frustrated there. It became a three-set match. Balls are getting heavier, it's third set, a bit emotional.
I wouldn't say that she did something differently. I would say that I just played kind of like against myself. But I'm really happy I was able to put everything together in the third set and get this win.
Q. You talked about in the last match having a lot of experience coming up against crowd favorites. How did that experience help you against this crowd and the opponent?
ARYNA SABALENKA: I'm not really focusing on the crowd when they're against me anymore. I don't really hear them. I'm just focusing on myself and my team. I'm trying to stay focused and keep thinking what I have to do on court, like just thinking about tactic, technical issues. Yeah, that's it.
I think that match against Coco last year gave me a lot. I'm actually really glad I lost that match because I think it was better for me. I learned a lot. Right now if crowd is against me, I'm okay with that. I don't really hear them. I'm focusing on different things, yeah.
Q. What is your feeling about the Chinese tennis season this year?
ARYNA SABALENKA: Well, it's definitely huge season for the Chinese players. It's more players in top 100. Qinwen winning the Olympics, making the finals of the Australian Open, finals here. Definitely tennis getting bigger in China. It's really nice to see.
Yeah, definitely successful year for China in tennis.
Q. I think this is the first time I heard your theme song in its entirety. I didn't realize it was a whole song. When was the first time you heard it and...
ARYNA SABALENKA: Well, I heard this song first - when was that - probably July when I was injured and I was in Miami. Yeah, I love the song. I met (indiscernible) with this song. I was really surprised. I think after the first match or second match they turn on this song. I was like, Wow, they found it. It's so cool.
It was nice to hear that song.
Q. Have you been in touch with the artist?
ARYNA SABALENKA: Yeah, it's actually friends of my boyfriend.
Q. Have you looked at the ranking? 69 points away from No. 1. Would you put the suspense on the Finals until you got the championship and the No. 1 in the ranking? Could you talk about that?
ARYNA SABALENKA: Yeah, that's really tight ranking right now. Really nice to see.
I always say of course it's one of the goals, but I prefer focus on myself and just keep working hard. We'll see after the Finals if I was good enough this season to become world No. 1.
Q. Would you talk about your encounters with Qinwen. Do you see any improvement in her play?
ARYNA SABALENKA: I would say that compared to the last year, we met at the US Open, compared to this year, yeah, she definitely improved. There is more consistency in her game. Probably playing a little bit more aggressive. I think she improved her backhand a little bit. There is definitely improvements. She's moving well, serving well. I see the improvements.
I'm really glad that still with these improvements I'm able to get these wins against her. We play three big matches against each other. I'm really happy that I'm still able to get these wins.
As I said I think at the beginning of the tournament, I'll keep working hard make sure, even if she's improving, I'm going to be improving more, and I'll get more wins against her in the future.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports