Sabalenka explains how she learned to slide on clay courts

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Good debut for Aryna Sabalenka at Roland Garros 2026 with a comfortable victory over Jessica Bouzas, who could hardly put up a fight. The Belarusian later analyzed the tournament conditions in the press room.

And it's something that keeps being discussed, the issue of heat. As if it were hotter than ever in Paris, at least that's the message the players are giving us whenever they have the microphone in front of them. Besides the weather, Aryna Sabalenka also wanted to discuss other issues regarding her form, her mentality this week, and her aspirations in a Roland Garros where she returns as a clear title contender. That title slipped from her hands last season.

Assessment of her debut against Bouzas

"I'm super happy to have advanced; I felt she was a tough opponent for a first round. I'm pleased with the level I played at, happy with the fight I showed, just happy to get through this first match. I would say the first matches are always the hardest because you're trying to see where you stand, get used to the conditions, and also deal with nerves and all that. For me, the first rounds are never easy. Then, the more I play and the further I progress in the tournament, the more comfortable I feel, and my level improves, so I would say the first match is the toughest. And then, it varies; there are no easy matches anymore, but emotionally, the first one is always the trickiest."

Managing the heat on court

"I would say it was pretty hot, especially compared to the first days when I arrived here and it was about 14 degrees, freezing. Now it's very hot, and the balls fly, everything goes much faster, but physically I feel strong, so I think it can benefit me. I just try to stay strong and ignore the weather."

Black dress, not a good match for the heat

"I don't like to take it easy; I like to challenge myself, but at the same time, the dress is super lightweight, very... I don't know, I don't even feel it on me. I thought wearing black would be very hot, but I don't feel the black color on me, so I'm really comfortable. Regarding the diamonds, I don't really feel the weight, although I can imagine how it looks from the outside. In fact, I was supposed to wear a third necklace, but I thought, 'Okay, maybe that's already too much,' so I decided to stick with just two. I feel quite comfortable; it's important for me to look good, if I feel good about how I look, I perform better and feel great."

Sabalenka analyzes Iga Swiatek's current situation

"She's an incredible player, and I love seeing that she's always open to new things, incorporating a new coach, looking for things that used to work very well for her and that maybe she felt she had lost. Now I see that she's improving and getting back on track, so of course, I always consider her one of the favorites."

Sabalenka explains how she learned to slide on clay courts

"I don't think I look particularly good sliding or feel great doing it, but I keep hoping that someday that move will work well for me. With my fitness trainer, Jason, we have been slowly improving my movement over the years, with many sliding exercises to feel naturally comfortable sliding towards the ball and hitting it balanced and strong physically. The idea is that even when sliding, you still feel stable and solid in the stroke. I think, with a lot of hard work over the years, I have improved in that part of the game, although not perfectly. I want to do better, but little by little, we are getting there."

Balance between being on social media and not losing focus

"When I feel it's too much, when I feel exhausted doing it or I'm lazy, I simply don't do it. In general, I love using social media; I love sharing who I am with people, I like showing the life I lead. I like to show the positive side of tennis; I like to show that it's okay to have fun off the court while working hard at the same time. I want the next generation to have a healthy view of this tough athlete life; I think some players can focus too much on the professional side and forget about themselves off the court. That's why I try to convey positivity to society, let's say. I hope to make some people smile and brighten their day."

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Sabalenka explica cómo aprendió a deslizar sobre tierra batida