Sabalenka defends the progress of the boycott: "I hope we don't have to go through a situation like this again"

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The tennis circuit demands much more money to be collected in Grand Slam tournaments, something that has not yet been fulfilled. Aryna Sabalenka, the current world number one, analyzed the mindset of the locker room before making her debut at Wimbledon 2026.

Aryna Sabalenka faced the media before Wimbledon in a press conference marked by issues that went far beyond the sport. The world number one discussed the conflict between players and Grand Slams over income distribution, defended the partial boycott of media commitments, explained why she has resumed working with her psychologist after Roland Garros, recounted how she overcame the defeat in Berlin, and also took time to assess the return of Serena Williams to the circuit.

Aryna Sabalenka's Opinion on the Increase in Prize Money in Grand Slams

"It's a great start that the prize money has been increased. It's a fantastic beginning, but if you look at the evolution of the last ten years and compare the prize money to that of 2016, it's practically the same because there were even years when it decreased. It's a good first step; I truly hope that finally we can sit down to negotiate and reach an agreement that satisfies all parties. Hopefully, we won't have to go through a situation like this again."

Criticisms of Players for Requesting More Money

"As I mentioned earlier, if you analyze the evolution of prizes over the last ten years, they have practically remained the same. Again, I hope we don't have to talk about boycotts again. Listen, we don't do this for ourselves; we do it for the circuit. We do it for all those players who can barely afford to hire a coach. Life is not easy for those lower in the rankings; we are fighting for them. I am convinced that the public understands us; we play the matches, compete, and provide the spectacle. The only thing we are currently limiting is our commitments to the media. We simply try to reach an agreement that satisfies all parties."

Sabalenka Discusses Her Work with Her Psychologist

"To a large extent, tennis is a mental sport. When I started working with a psychologist, I talked to my team, and we already knew that at some point, I would need her help again, so I contacted her because I didn't want to start from scratch with someone else. When you look for a new psychologist, you have to retell your entire story and make sure that person knows you deeply. I preferred to return to someone who already knows me very well, and now we are working together again. I felt that I needed someone to unload all my thoughts with and clear my mind a bit before such an important tournament; I believe this is essential. I have a great team, and we talk a lot, but sometimes there are things you don't want to burden them with. It's very important to have someone you can talk to and feel completely safe with."

How Sabalenka Handled Her Recent Defeat

"Regarding the game, I felt very good. I had been working on several aspects before Wimbledon, and in Berlin, I felt that everything started to come together, especially in the second set against Jessica. In the third, she played incredible tennis, and I tried to do my best, but she found a rhythm that I couldn't break. It just didn't work out. Honestly, at the end of that third set, I burst out laughing. I thought, 'Well, this is what we have in front of us right now.' I don't want to obsess over those sets or the numbers; I prefer to keep working on myself and my game. Throughout the tournament, I had very good sensations. There were some ups and downs, but overall, I feel that everything is falling back into place. Now I am here, happy, and eager to start playing."

Sabalenka Defends the Media Boycott

"I want everyone to understand that I have a lot of respect for you all, and I appreciate the work you do. Without you, surviving in the era of social media would have been very difficult. This is not against you at all; I truly respect you. We are simply fighting for something more important, for the other players. Basically, we are trying to help them survive in this sport."

Sabalenka's View on Serena Williams' Comeback

"I don't know how far she will go, but I am very excited to see her play. It's amazing; I heard she said she was coming back so her kids could see her compete, and they are very excited about that idea. What she is doing is fantastic; besides, we are talking about Serena Williams, so everyone will be watching her. Her return will attract even more attention to tennis, and that's very positive for our sport. I am really looking forward to seeing her play."

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Sabalenka defiende el avance del boicot: “Ojalá no tengamos que volver a pasar por una situación como esta”