Aryna Sabalenka reveals the goal she would never set for herself in a match: "I would get crazy"

Aryna Sabalenka revealed on Sunday, January 12, the goal she would never set for herself in a match. She made the revelation during a post-match press conference at the 2025 Australian Open.

Sabalenka overcame former US Open champion Sloane Stephens in straight sets in the first round to open her title defence at Melbourne Park on Sunday. She needed only 72 minutes to get the job done against Stephens.

The Belarusian suffered two breaks of serve but converted five break points on the American's serve. She combined those with 20 winners to win the match 6-3, 6-2.

Following the result, Sabalenka sat down with the press and while responding to a Sportskeeda query about if she set herself targets to win a match without losing a certain amount of games, she said:

"Oh, my God, if I would set these kind of goals, I wouldn't be able to play a match. I would get crazy on myself. So there is no goals like specific games or something. It's just go out there, compete, and do your best."

Notably, Aryna Sabalenka is in the Australian Open main draw this year as a two-time defending champion. In 2023, she overcame Elena Rybakina to claim the title and defeated Zheng Qinwen in the last year's final.

Thus, the success against Stephens marked her 15th win at Melbourne Park.

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Aryna Sabalenka: "I just want to keep winning as long as I can just to feel the atmosphere"

Aryna Sabalenka waves to the crowd at Rod Laver Arena (Getty)

Further during the same press interaction at the 2025 Australian Open on Sunday, Aryna Sabalenka acknowledged the support she has receiving from the Melbourne crowd in recent years.

She suggested the atmosphere is what keeps her going:

"I don't know. I think I just love people, love crowd. I love all the support I feel during basically every match I played there. I think it's all about the atmosphere, the way they cheering for me. It's just incredible feeling. I just want to keep winning as long as I can just to feel the atmosphere."

Aryna Sabalenka's next opponent will be Spain's Jessica Bouzas Maneiro, who defeated Britain's Sonay Kartal 6-1, 7-6(5) in her first round effort on Sunday. This will be a first clash on the WTA Tour between the Belarusian and Bouzas Maneiro, who touched her career-high ranking of World No. 52 last week in the WTA tally.