"I'm getting older" - Aryna Sabalenka gets real about playing in tough conditions after reaching Australian Open QF

Aryna Sabalenka gave her thoughts on playing in Melbourne's tough conditions following her fourth-round win at the ongoing 2025 Australian Open. Sabalenka comfortably dispatched youngster Mirra Andreeva to reach the quarterfinals of the prestigious hardcourt Major, where she is the two-time defending champion.

Daytime conditions in Melbourne have predominantly been hot and humid, and it was quite the same for Sabalenka and Andreeva's fourth-round clash. However, despite this, the Belarusian registered a comprehensive 6-1, 6-2 win over the Russian teen prodigy, firing three aces and converting four out of seven break point opportunities.

During her post-match, on-court interview, Aryna Sabalenka was asked about how she felt competing in the difficult conditions prevalent in Melbourne. The World No. 1 hilariously replied:

"Well, you know, I'm getting older and I'm actually not sure if it's good for me." (at 0:55)

This reply sparked laughter from the crowd in the Rod Laver Arena. Sabalenka proceeded to assess the differences between her third-round win over Clara Tauson and her fourth-round victory against Andreeva.

"No, but I mean, like, previous day was such tough conditions, the ball was so heavy, you had swing really hard at the ball and I don't know, I was just swinging too hard and today, I came out to the court and I was just like trying to put the ball back and the ball was flying like a rocket you know," Sabalenka added.

The Belarusian also expressed her happiness over her level of performance against Andreeva, saying:

"I don't know, I'm super happy with my level today. I hope the conditions help me and I hope it's going to be the same till the end of the tournament and it's going to help me the same way."

A resurgent Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova awaits Aryna Sabalenka in the quarterfinals of the 2025 Australian Open.

Aryna Sabalenka would do well to be wary of former World No. 11 Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova in Australian Open 2025 QF

Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova in action at the Australian Open (Image Source: Getty)

Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, currently the World No. 32, sealed her own progress to the 2025 Australian Open quarterfinals with a 7-6(0), 6-0 win over No. 18 seed Donna Vekic. Pavlyuchenkova is set to lock horns with Aryna Sabalenka in the quarterfinals, and the Russian has the upper hand against the Belarusian in their WTA Tour-level head-to-head.

The pair's maiden meeting on the WTA Tour came in the 2019 Canadian Open, where Pavlyuchenkova emerged victorious in the Round of 64. Their next meeting came two years later, in the semifinals of the Madrid Open. This time around, the matchup finished in Sabalenka's favor.

Next, they faced each other in the 2021 French Open's Round of 32, with Pavlyuchenkova once again defeating Sabalenka. However, things have changed drastically since then. The Belarusian is a much more improved player now, having worked rigorously on some of her on-court weaknesses.