Sabalenka, after conceding her crown in Australia: "It was difficult to accept, but I believe I have already overcome it"

Andrés Tomás Rico | 5 Mar 2025 | 14.00

Sabalenka, after relinquishing her crown in Australia: "It was difficult to accept, but I think I have already overcome it." Photo: Getty Images

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Aryna Sabalenka knows exactly what her goal is: to win Indian Wells 2025. The current world number one wants to move on from her defeat in the Australian Open final and her inconsistent month of February, with two losses in three matches, and focuses on lifting the California trophy on March 15. Additionally, the Belarusian spoke at a press conference about her experience at the Oscars gala, her expectations regarding the WTA's new image makeover, and the new court surfaces at Indian Wells.

Excited about the new courts

"I love them. They are a bit faster, which is good for me, right? No, but it feels good, it feels good so far. I'll let you know more after my first match. I hope I keep liking it."

Unpleasant feelings in the Middle East

"It's been like three years since things didn't go well for me in the Middle East. It's a good problem to have because I was going far in the Australian Open, so I was pretty exhausted every time I arrived in the Middle East. I was exhausted and sick, so those were tough months. I think February is not my month. But I love this tournament. They call it the other Grand Slam, so I'm very excited. I really want to go far."

The defeat in the Melbourne final, the toughest of her career

"Absolutely, yes. These disappointing defeats always motivate me to work harder. It was hard to accept, but I think I've moved on. Now I'm ready to seek revenge if I get the chance. I've had some tough losses in the past, but that one was hard to accept, to be honest. It took me like a week and maybe a bit more to stop thinking about it and turn the page. I'd say the lesson learned is in the past. It's good to have these tough defeats because next time you will do much better."

Aiming for the title

"It would mean a lot because the final I lost to Elena Rybakina in 2023 was also a tough match. I felt like I lost that match on my own. I made a lot of unforced errors and let the match slip away. Winning this trophy would mean a lot to me because I had an amazing experience in Indian Wells and I always wanted to win this tournament. It would be incredible to have this beautiful trophy at home."

The importance of enjoying life off the court

"I think that's very important. As I've said, I think it's all about balance in life, and you have to balance this tough tennis life with some fun, so you don't lose your mind on the court. I've always talked about balancing things. I think it's very important to have fun off the court."

Her request for the new WTA image

"I want to see more fun and a bit more structure in the way they represent us and show us, and I'd like them to showcase our personalities a bit more, so people can see and know who we are beyond the tennis court. Of course, I would like them, if they post something and do something on social media, to post better pictures of us, not ones where we look very bad and wrong. But I think it's a new beginning, and it was very necessary for tennis. I hope it's a good start for our sport to explode a little better."

Her experience at the Oscars gala

"It was a great experience, completely different from what we do. Everyone is well-dressed. Everyone looks elegant and handsome. It was nice to be in a different atmosphere and have a bit of fun away from the hard work on the court," says Sabalenka, who has no intention other than to win her first Indian Wells title.

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Sabalenka, tras ceder su corona en Australia: "Fue difícil de aceptar, pero creo que ya lo he superado"