Sabalenka: "The weather is crazy, they should close the roofs"

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Although it took more effort than expected, Aryna Sabalenka achieved her third victory in this Open de Australia 2026 to advance to the round of 16. Later, in the press conference, we were able to hear her analyze different topics.

Despite it being her toughest match so far, the reality is that Aryna Sabalenka has once again won and continues without dropping sets in this Australian Open. The world number one is clear about her objective, and so far, there is no way to stop her. Anastasia Potapova tried, but she couldn't capitalize on the more vulnerable version of the Belarusian. Later, in the press room, some issues were discussed, such as the high temperatures that will affect the tournament starting tomorrow. What solution can be applied? The player from Minsk offered her perspective.

Victory against Sabalenka

“It was a tough match; she played incredible tennis, so I just tried to hang in there. I was trying to fight, so I'm super happy with my mindset today in the match. I think that's the only thing I achieved on the court today, which really helped me pull through this victory.”

Adding power to her forehand

“It was a big change; before, I just hit the ball flat on both sides, so it was a big technical change. Luckily for me, I didn't struggle for so long with that technical change because I was young and open to facing some changes. For me, it was quite an easy change. It made a massive difference in my game, which brought me many benefits in the future, but mentally you have to be ready, open to something new to change it all.”

Following the boys' steps

“Something has changed in recent years, that's a fact. I think we're starting to adopt some things from men, like that heavy shot with a lot of spin, it's much more aggressive than just hitting a flat ball. It's not easy to block that kind of shot; it's a very heavy ball, I don't even know how to explain it in English (laughs). It's not easy to counterattack, return it, let's leave it at that.”

The role of a world No. 1

“You feel that you have a great influence on the next generation; that's my only expectation I have of myself. It's the only focus I have, to be a good example, to show that you can balance things, that you have to have fun and also be focused on your career, just so that young kids don't make the same mistake I did. Being too absorbed in tennis has sometimes put pressure on me, it's like destroying yourself. I try to be an example for the next generation, for them to be willing to do what they love, what brings them joy, but without neglecting their work. I don't know what people expect from me; I'm representing this sport; that's what people see, so it's important to stay true to yourself”.

Victory over Sabalenka in the fourth round

“Honestly, I never spoke with her, never had the chance to train with her, only saw her from afar. I watched some of her matches; she's a great player, a great fighter, playing very aggressively in this tournament. For me, it would have been very difficult to handle that success at such a young age, but now I see these young girls and what they are achieving, playing great tennis and being very mature; it's incredible. I feel they mature much faster than I did. It's amazing to see how smart they are and what their approach is. They have a great team around them; it's great to see them.”

Aryna Sabalenka reveals how long she wants to keep playing

“I'm not sure; I can't say anything because you never know what the future holds. Ideally for me, what I would love, would be to have kids at around 32 years old or something, but knowing myself, I also love tackling tough challenges, so I feel that after becoming a mother, I'd love to come back and see if I still have it, just to challenge myself. You'll probably see me being a grandma on the circuit; I'll keep trying, hope to keep pushing the young girls, but we'll talk about this in ten years.”

Sabalenka's proposition to combat the high temperatures in Australia

“The temperature has reached 35º-36º, but I think there's a heat rule. I believe the stadiums should create the roof, but outside, the players should apply that heat rule. I wouldn't like to play in those conditions; it's not good news for our bodies, but I'm glad we have that heat rule. I hope the stadiums are covered because the weather situation is crazy. It forces us to adjust the strings and also the match focus. In the end, everything depends on the weather, but it's a roller coaster, so we'll see who adapts better.”

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Sabalenka: “El clima es una locura, deberían cerrar los techos”