SABALENKA/Zarazua
6-4, 6-0
THE MODERATOR: Aryna, your first win of the season. Can you give is us your keys to the victory in the match today.
ARYNA SABALENKA: I don't know. Honestly I was just trying to stay focus. I didn't start at my best at the beginning. But I'm glad that I closed that first set. In the second set was kind of like able to step in and play my game.
Really happy with the first win of the season.
THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.
Q. You mentioned possibly a little bit of rustiness in the first set. Must be pleasing to get that out of your system. You looked to your box with frustration.
ARYNA SABALENKA: Yeah, I mean, I started really well, but then I think I was over-trying to do stuff. I was really frustrated with that. They were just like sitting there just, Don't overdo stuff, just stay basic and stay low.
I'm like, Yeah, yeah, I know, whatever (laughter).
Yeah, I'm glad I was able to switch off and kind of like start everything over again.
Q. It looked like you were on your bench and did...
ARYNA SABALENKA: I felt like I had a lot of time. I had a lot of options what to do with that ball. I was overthinking, overdoing stuff. I was kind of like pissed with myself that I couldn't stick to the simple stuff.
Yeah, that was a bit fun at the beginning. I'm glad that, yeah, I closed this match in two sets.
Q. You have a good record here, in Australia. Possibly last time you were on that court things didn't go quite so well. Is that a way to exorcize demons?
ARYNA SABALENKA: Well, I didn't think about that last match. Elena just played incredible tennis. She just smashed everything. It seemed that day that whatever she would do, it would go in. Whatever I would try to do, it would be completely off.
That was just the perfect game from Elena and terrible job from my team. Whatever, blame someone, right? That's the key (smiling).
Yeah, I'm glad that I came back, got the win. Kind of like on the new road.
Q. Does it feel like this is a great way to start the season, going for a third straight Australian Open?
ARYNA SABALENKA: You're saying that like it's already in the history that she's going to win it (smiling).
I mean, I'm super happy to be back in Australia. It really feels like home. I love the atmosphere. Doesn't matter where you play, Brisbane, Adelaide, Melbourne, it's always amazing atmosphere. I'm really happy to be back.
Yeah, it's great to start the season, I mean, playing the tournament before the big one. I really hope I can do well here and I can come back really strong in Melbourne.
Q. The second set 6-Love, was that a pretty good sign of what's to come for the next month?
ARYNA SABALENKA: I will definitely improve my dropshots. Didn't really work well today. Hopefully in the next one going to be better.
But overall, yeah, I think it was a perfect set. Nothing to be complaining about. I hope I can really stay the same throughout the year or even better.
Q. Your next opponent, what are you expecting from her?
ARYNA SABALENKA: We played in Wuhan. She's going to run around. She's going to put so many balls back. She's going to make me move. It's going to be a lot of long rallies.
I'm ready for a really high-level match. Excited to play against her again.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports