The Belarusian joked about the power of her shots and detailed what her diet is before matches. Do you know what statistic obsesses her the most?
After a tough second-round match at the 2025 Australian Open, Aryna Sabalenka, the World No. 1 and defending champion, reflected on her hard-fought victory over Jessica Bouzas. Bouzas pushed Sabalenka, breaking her serve multiple times and coming close to forcing a third set, but Sabalenka showed resilience, sealing the win in straight sets.
On her victory over Bouzas:
Sabalenka expressed relief and satisfaction: “I am super happy to have finished this match in straight sets; she played amazing tennis, especially in the second set. I am very pleased to have turned the situation around in my favor.”
Facing Clara Tauson in the third round:
Though she hasn’t played Tauson before, Sabalenka is excited about the challenge: “I think I’ll leave that part to my team; let them find out, although we will surely review her last match. I know she is a very aggressive player, serves well, and hits very strong shots. It will be a great battle.”
Her power and diet:
Sabalenka credits genetics for her natural strength: “The reality is that there is no secret, just good genetics. As for my diet, I stick to the basics. For breakfast, I have porridge and an egg white omelet. I usually don’t eat during matches as it makes me feel heavy.”
Preferred match times:
When it comes to scheduling, Sabalenka enjoys the first matches of the day: “I like playing around 7:00, but never after the men; I hate it when it starts at midnight. The first matches are great because if you win, you can relax for the rest of the day.”
Statistics focus:
Sabalenka pays close attention to her service percentage and the speed of her forehand: “Generally, the most important things are the first serve percentage and the winning percentage with the first and second serve.”
On Qinwen Zheng’s elimination:
Sabalenka emphasized the mental challenge of Grand Slam events: “Not everyone can handle the emotions. Many players can come out and play without fear, which can put you in an uncomfortable position. That’s why I focus on the day-to-day and showing my best each match.”
