Aryna Sabalenka on Grand Slam glory: ‘I want to feel that again!’

Aryna Sabalenka hasn’t forgotten the excitement and emotion of her first-ever Grand Slam title at the 2023 Australian Open.

And she goes into the BNP Paribas Open determined to win more trophies – and more Slams.

“After this huge win it’s easier to go on court than after a tough loss,” she told a press conference ahead of her second-round match against Evgeniya Rodina. “Everyone was happy, we worked a lot. I feel more motivated, I feel like I need more, I want to get more wins.”

On her reaction after winning the Melbourne final, she reflected: “I didn’t expect myself crying but when I won it, especially in the last game, I was shaking. I really wanted to win and then I was crying.

“I expected this moment [of winning a Grand Slam] but I didn’t expect myself crying, I [expected to be] happy, jumping. It was so long waiting. It was different!”

And she added: “I want to feel that again – it was so good!”

Sabalenka: I don’t feel different now I’m a Grand Slam champion

Being a Grand Slam champion has not changed her preparation or her ambition ahead of Indian Wells.

“I don’t feel different, I feel like the same player, just with a Grand Slam title, and I still have to go on court and I still have to play my best tennis to win it. Nothing really changed, still working hard, still really want to get this title and hopefully I can do really well here.”

You might also like this

“More motivation to work hard, just to feel it again” – now that she’s a Slam champion, Aryna Sabalenka says the No 1 ranking is top priority

tennis majors

Joyous Sabalenka explains key to her Australian Open success: “I needed those tough losses to understand myself better”

tennis majors