A. SABALENKA/S. Zhang
6-3, 6-4
THE MODERATOR: Aryna, well played tonight, good win on the hard courts. Just your thoughts on your performance.
ARYNA SABALENKA: Yeah, I'm happy with the level, happy with the win in straight sets, and happy that rain didn't stop our game. So, yeah, happy to be through.
THE MODERATOR: Questions?
Q. Kind of a non-match-related question. You recently unveiled your US Open outfit, and I know it received a lot of reactions. I want to get your thoughts personally on not only the reaction, but your outfit. Did you have any input into it, and then also how does it kind of compare to some of our more recent Nike fits?
ARYNA SABALENKA: I really love this year Nike outfit because they all relate to different sports. Like, Australia was surf related. Then French Open it was ballet. Then Wimbledon was cricket. And then US Open is basketball. So I really feel like I look like a basketball, so it's very, it's a fun one.
For me, for so long they have been kind of, like, stick to basic stuff. I've been pushing them to like create some like fun stuff, different stuff, different maybe shape, different idea of the dress.
I've been having so much fun, and I feel like, I really think honestly that recently they have been more creative and more fun, and we're definitely onto the something really fun, especially for the next year.
So I'm excited to partner with them, to come up with some fun, fresh, new designs.
I love my outfit. If someone doesn't like it, it's okay. Like, you cannot impress everyone with your outfits. That's why I like fashion because there is room for whatever, basically anything you like.
Q. You mentioned there that there was a basketball-inspired theme. How much basketball do you watch?
ARYNA SABALENKA: I love it. But when I watch basketball I like to sit on the courtside. I'm always impressed by the movement. I'm like, Guys, how do you do that? I always send videos to my fitness coach saying, I guess we're definitely doing something wrong. Because if these guys with this size can move that way, like I definitely do something wrong (laughing). No, it's just a joke.
But I enjoy sitting on the courtside, because I get to see the movement, the reaction. I don't know, it feels different.
Q. Talking about your match today, obviously Shuai's a very tough opponent to close out against. I think it's been a few years since you played on tour. What were the keys to finishing that match in straight sets?
ARYNA SABALENKA: Yeah, she's impressive player. Like, the level that she always bring on court, she always improve her game.
In doubles she's a beast. I played a lot of matches against her in doubles. It's always a challenging one.
On the singles court you know that she's going to be there. She will be trying until the very last point. So, yeah, she's a tricky opponent.
I would say very great targeting of the ball, and it was really not easy to play her.
Q. Around Wimbledon, I believe, Andrea Petkovic highlighted an interesting stat that, like, since Rome 2025 anyone that's beaten you before the final of a tournament has gone on to lose the very next round. I was wondering if you were aware of that sort of statistic, and, like, were you aware of the trend, and do you believe it's a coincidence or...
ARYNA SABALENKA: I think we should put this statistic and ask the players, Why would you even beat me if you know that in the next round this is what's going to happen (smiling).
No, I mean, I think it's a coincidence, to be honest. I don't know, maybe, you know, because I feel like every match that I've lost recently it's been like three sets match. Like, it was very challenging, very tough performance matches.
Sometimes, if you schedule the player the next day, it's tough to pull out like really great tennis after you've been playing three sets against the player. Just physically I feel like it's tough to recover.
So I think it's just a matter of the scheduling. I don't know. I mean, but it's pretty impressive. We should talk about that more, just to put some more pressure on the players (laughing).
Q. Curious, at this stage in your career, how many matches do you feel that you need to be in peak form as you head into the US Open?
ARYNA SABALENKA: I don't know. It's always different. That's the beauty of sport, because there is no guarantees. It's like every time it's a different, completely different story.
How much matches do I need? As many as I can, probably.
The other question is that I'm getting older, so probably I can play less, just so I'll come to the US Open more fresh. So, I don't know, it's a good question.
Q. You mentioned getting older. I know you talked about wanting to start a family eventually, and then maybe also come back. Do you feel like that maybe puts a little bit more pressure on you as you enter the slams, because obviously you want to peak for the slams.
ARYNA SABALENKA: Yeah, no, not at all. I feel like at the beginning of my career I've been, like, an over thinker, so it would really put me down and put a lot of pressure on me.
But recently I just don't like to think too much. That's probably another problem that I'm facing.
No extra pressure. I only feel more experienced, yeah, come on now, that's what I'm saying. But I only feel experienced and I don't feel old yet (laughing). Thank you.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports