Aryna Sabalenka Press Conference | Australian Open 2026 First Round

First Round Performance Insights

• 💡 Aryna Sabalenka expressed happiness at winning her first match, despite an initial struggle to find her rhythm on court.
• 🎯 She noted that her performance improved significantly in the last two games of the first set, allowing her to play more aggressively.
• 🧠 A key challenge was playing an unfamiliar opponent whose game she hadn't watched, making it difficult to anticipate shots and find her own rhythm.
• 🎾 The opponent's serve was described as awkward, not heavy or fast, and she served good targets, which complicated Sabalenka's return game.

Game Development & Strategy

• 🚀 Sabalenka has been actively working on her serve and volley technique and was proud to execute it successfully during the match.
• ✨ She aims to be unpredictable on court, viewing the ability to perform new strategies in a match as a significant achievement.
• 🌱 Emphasizing the importance of constant game evolution, she believes always developing and adding new elements is key to consistency and success.

Off-Court Ventures

• 💎 Sabalenka discussed her excitement about a long-term jewelry collaboration with Material Good, a partnership she values for its creative freedom.
• 🎨 She appreciates the brand for giving her space to design and be unique, highlighting their understanding of her style.

Memorable Australian Open Moments

• 💬 Reflecting on her first Australian Open, she recalled a challenging match against Ashleigh Barty on Rod Laver Arena, which, despite being a loss, provided valuable learning.
• 👏 Sabalenka was incredibly excited and honored to have Roger Federer and Rod Laver watching her match from the first row, joking that she wanted to impress Federer with her net play.