“I know how to play on clay and it’s all about being healthy”: Aryna Sabalenka confident despite disrupted Roland Garros build-up

The world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka enters Roland Garros as the top seed, but under markedly different circumstances compared to last season. The Belarusian arrives in Paris without a clay-court semi-final in 2025, a contrast to her deeper runs in previous years on the surface.

Sabalenka’s preparation has been disrupted by physical issues during the clay swing, including reported lower back and hip discomfort that contributed to inconsistent results. She managed only four wins in six matches on clay leading into the French Open, a decline from her typically dominant baseline form.

Despite that, Sabalenka remains positioned among the main contenders for the title, having previously demonstrated strong adaptability on clay, including a run to the final at Roland Garros last year. That campaign included victories over Olympic gold medallist Zheng Qinwen and four-time French Open champion Iga Swiatek, although she ultimately fell to Coco Gauff in the final.

Speaking ahead of her French Open debut, Sabalenka said her focus has shifted towards recovery and physical stability after a difficult start to the clay season. The Belarusian will face a tricky opening-round challenge against clay specialist Jessica Bouzas.

Sabalenka’s central concern heading into Paris has been physical readiness rather than technical adjustment to clay. She acknowledged that the start of the swing was disrupted by fitness issues but insisted those problems have now been resolved through recovery work and reduced load.

“I struggled in the beginning of the claycourt (swing) physically, but right now I feel 100%,” she said in a press conference ahead of her debut. “We did a great recovery. We focused on recovery and made sure that I'm healed everywhere and I'm ready to go. Right now, physically I'm ready to go.”

Her clay season has been unusually light for a player of her ranking. She only played two tournaments (Madrid and Rome), with a 4–2 record on the surface so far. A different reality compared to previous years, when she arrived at Roland Garros with at least 10 wins on clay across the two preceding seasons.

“I think all of us are here just for one reason, doesn't matter if I didn't play a lot of matches on the claycourt,” Sabalenka explained regarding her limited match play on the surface. “I know how to play on clay and it's all about being physically and mentally healthy, to go for it, and to be ready to fight.”

Beyond the physical aspect, Sabalenka highlighted mental management as a decisive factor in her performance trajectory. She pointed to emotional volatility earlier in her career as a recurring issue that directly impacted match outcomes.

“My emotions were destroying my game and my level was dropping dramatically when I would just start over-reacting on everything,” the 2025 French Open finalist said. “And also, at the same time, my opponents would see that and they would step in and play better.”

Sabalenka described a deliberate shift in approach over recent seasons, focused on reducing visible emotional swings and maintaining competitive stability during matches. That adjustment, she suggested, has contributed to her rise to the top of the rankings and sustained Grand Slam consistency.

“First of all, making sure that my opponent doesn't see what's going on in my head, and at the same time, to perform better and to stay in the zone - it was a huge improvement over the years in my career and really helped me to level up.”

Looking ahead to Roland Garros, Sabalenka framed expectations in straightforward terms. While acknowledging she would prefer a stronger clay build-up compared to last year, her objective remains unchanged at the season’s second Grand Slam. “All I can say that I'm ready to fight. Of course, I hope to do a little bit better than I did last year.”