Sabalenka and the importance of her clothing: "The better dressed I am, the better I play"

Aryna Sabalenka successfully began her defense of the US Open title, although not without having to work hard, especially in the first set, against Rebeka Masorova. After a tough first set, the world number one loosened up and ended up dominating comfortably in her return to the Arthur Ashe (7-5, 6-1).

After this great victory in her return to New York, the Belarusian attended a press conference where she spoke about the impact that wearing beautiful attire has on her game and her much-needed vacation in Mykonos, in addition to the pressure of being the title defender and the relationships among tennis players off the court.

Happy with her start

"I'm happy to have achieved this victory and to have advanced to the second round. I feel like I didn't start very well in the first matches, but then I found my rhythm. Yes, I'm pleased with the level that I played today."

The importance of her vacation in Greece

"I had a great time in Mykonos. It was very important because the season had been very intense up to that point, and I felt very low on energy and a bit... Well, I was motivated, of course, but I felt that everything was very hard. I couldn't give my best, and my body was very weak. I felt that I needed a little break, recharge my energy, and come back stronger. And I believe it was really necessary, and I did everything right. Talking about the upcoming vacations, I want to go back to Greece. It's a truly lovely place. Like paradise, really."

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Her passion for fashion translates to her tennis

"For me, it's very important. You know, for me, stepping onto the court in big stadiums is like dressing up for the occasion. For me, it's the moment when I can truly show who I am. The better dressed I am, the better I perform. The better I feel with my attire, the better I play. So, it's very important for me. I'm very grateful to the Nike and Wilson teams for creating something so special. I think the bag is great, the racquet is amazing. My outfit is, I think, very cool. I gave some ideas to the Nike team, and they created a really special dress. So, it's a very special moment for me."

On the pressure of defending the title at the US Open

"It's an incredible feeling. I love being the defending champion. For me, it's motivating, you know, and I want to do well. I want to do the same as I did last year. I want to feel those emotions, and I've really worked hard for it. I hope to achieve my goal here."

About the friendship that Maria Sharapova and Serena Williams have today

"It was truly inspiring. It shows that tennis is just a small part of our lives. Seeing how they've become such good friends is very inspiring. I was moved by both of their speeches. It was a very beautiful moment. It's a great message to the world that, yes, on the court we are rivals, and we can be quite aggressive, but off the court, we are all kind and we are all friends."

She wants more interaction among tennis players

"I would love to see more fun content, more fun stuff. I think it would be very entertaining if these great players did some kind of podcast together and talked, for example, about tennis-related topics, had fun, maybe went out together, and were friendly. Just to show the world that tennis is one thing, but there are things off the court, and we are all friends, and the atmosphere is really very healthy."

On having an extra day of rest

"I didn't choose to play on Sunday, but if you win the match, you feel great. You have, like, an extra day off, which can be good and bad. But I think personally, I've gotten used to it, and I like it. But it only works when you win the match, you know. Imagine finishing the tournament on Sunday. Then, yes, you can feel a bit frustrated with the schedule. But the older I get, the more I prefer having an extra day."

This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Sabalenka y la importancia de su ropa: "Cuanto mejor voy vestida, mejor juego"