Aryna Sabalenka's press conference following her win against Emma Navarro in the semifinals of the 2024 US Open.nnQuestion :nIrina, if you would, your thoughts on the win?nnAryna Sabalenka :nYeah, that was a very difficult match, especially at the end of the second set. I got a little emotional and had this little flashback on last year's final, meaning the crowd atmosphere. And I'm really glad that the lesson was learned and I was able to control my emotions and I was able to close this match in two sets.nnQuestion :nBrian Lewis, Eric Bose. You touched on it, but just how much growth have you made in that area where you have a home crowd obviously cheering for their player and you don't let that, for lack of a better term, get in your head?nnSabalenka :nYeah, I mean, last year was a very tough experience, very tough lesson. And today in the match I was like, no, no, no, Irina, it's not going to happen again. You have to control your emotions, you have to focus on yourself.nAnd there were people supporting for me, I was trying to focus on them, thinking like, come on, there are so many people supporting you. There is your team in the box, there is your family. Just focus on yourself and try to fight for it.nAnd yeah, that's it.nnQuestion :nWhat went into your decision not to play the Olympics? Did it have anything to do with not being able to represent your nation? And now, looking back, do you feel grateful that you did skip it because it allowed you to be prepared for this tournament?nnSabalenka :nI mean, first of all, I got injured before Wimbledon, so I couldn't play anyway. But my decision was based on the tough scheduling, you know, and you have to sacrifice something. And I decided to sacrifice the Olympics for the hardcore season.nAnd I have no regrets on that decision. I mean, it looks like it was the right one. And I had a great kind of like time off.nI did a lot of treatment, a lot of free hop and all that stuff. And then I had a little camp before the hardcore season. And I was able to reset my mind and clean my thoughts and start everything from the beginning.nnQuestion :nI mean, you've had some rough nights here, you referenced last year and had some other things. And yet you seem kind of happy here when you come to this tournament and like you're fresh and it's new. What is it?nOpen mind and sort of seemingly be optimistic after all that's happened to you here?nnSabalenka :nThis year, you said? After everything happened to me this year?nnQuestion :nWell, no, not this year.nnSabalenka :nJust here in the past.nnQuestion :nNo, I'm talking about just at the US Open in New York. I mean, some people would be like, I'm never going to that place again.nnSabalenka :nNo, that's not about me. Yeah, I had really tough lessons here in the past, really. Like, as I think I had so many opportunities here, but they didn't use it for different reasons.nI wasn't ready. Then I got emotional. Then I just couldn't handle the crowd.nAnd so many times, like, not so many times, like I felt like I just missed opportunity. And every time I'm coming back here, I really enjoy being in New York. I enjoy this court, I enjoy crowd, I enjoy playing in front of, in this beautiful stadium in front of the crowd.nAnd I enjoy the city, the time of the court. And every time I'm coming back here, I have this positive thinking only like, come on, maybe, maybe this time. And every time I'm hoping that one day I'll be able to hold that beautiful trophy.nAnd, you know, like, tough losses never, how to say, like, makes me feel depressed. I'm like, not one, like, not thinking, like, of not coming back on the tournament. It's only motivate me to come back and to try one more time, and try harder, and maybe, like, work harder on some things which didn't work in the past.nAnd, yeah, and I'm still hoping to hold that beautiful trophy.nnQuestion :nHi, David King, tennis.com. As much as you enjoy the crowd, what is the toughest part about the crowd on Ash? Is it the fact that they're supporting an American?nIs it the loudness? Is it when they're cheering? Like, what makes it tricky?nnSabalenka :nI would say that, I mean, today wasn't that crazy, actually. They were loud, but during the point, they were respectful and chill, you know. And last year, they were just super loud, even during the point.nAnd it was that loud, so it was blocking my ears. So that was, like, so much pressure. And I think the mistake was that I was focusing on myself, but I didn't think that she's actually also on the same court, feeling the same loudness from the crowd, and we're all in the same conditions.nYeah, they're cheering for her, but how can they help her to win the match? You know, only if I let them get into my head, and only if I'm going to lose my, just lose myself, you know, get crazy. So, yeah, the trickiest is the loudness of how loud it can be in the stadium.nReally, and then smash.nnQuestion :nThey're out playing your next opponent, so we don't know for sure who it'll be. Individually, though, starting with Jessica, what are your thoughts on the matches you've had before and the outlook for this one?nnSabalenka :nYeah, I mean, we had a lot of great battles in the past, really difficult, tight matches. And she played really incredible tennis, and we played recently in Cincinnati. It was a really tough match, even though I closed the match in two sets, but still it wasn't that easy.nAnd she's playing her best tennis, I would say, and it feels like she's back on track. I mean, she won the tournament, then she made the final, then she's here a step away from another final. So she's in incredible shape, and it's going to be another great battle against her.nAnd, yeah, I cannot wait to play against her.nnQuestion :nAnd if it's Mukhova, what are your thoughts on what she's done and coming back from injury to regain her form?nnSabalenka :nYeah, that's really incredible, and I'm really happy for her. I mean, she faced so many challenges, so many injuries, and every time she's able to come back on the top level, she's playing incredible tennis. The variation is impressive.nSerf and Wally, great player, and I had really tight, tough losses in the past to her. So I'm really looking forward to get that revenge.nnQuestion :nA couple of days ago here, you talked about that you are practising slices and volley often, and today you made these shots at very crucial points. So how did you think that it's important for you to have that kind of options, and how happy you are to make these very important points?nnSabalenka :nYeah, I think it's really important to have all the skills, all the variation in your game, especially in those crucial moments when the opponent is used to one tennis from me, and if I'm able to play around and change it whenever I need, whenever I feel like I have to. I think that makes the difference, and that's what puts my opponent even under more pressure. I think that's very important, and I'm really happy that we're working on everything with my team and trying to improve every aspect of my game.nSo, yeah, I think that's really important, and as you said, on the crucial moments, these things really help me.nnQuestion :nYou've talked about finding calm in your life and learning to separate personal life from tennis, but I'm just wondering, have you also learned to carry some of that calm onto the court, maybe in tight situations like tonight in the second set?nnSabalenka :nYeah, I worked really hard on my mindset on the match, and I think I made a really huge improvement on that calmness, on those crucial moments, and I'm really happy to see that in those key moments I'm able to stay focused and just try to do my best and focus on my tennis, on things which I have to do to win this match, not like on the outside, and even if things are not working well for me, I still keep doing the right things, and I'm staying in control.nI'm really proud. I'm actually really proud of myself that I was able to...
The most commented
