“I would probably have more Grand Slams”: Aryna Sabalenka says five-set format would suit her game

Aryna Sabalenka arrives at Indian Wells with momentum from a strong start to the 2026 season and a commanding position at the top of the WTA rankings. The Belarusian has played only two tournaments this year but has compiled an 11–1 record, capturing the Brisbane International title before finishing runner-up at the Australian Open.

Despite skipping the Middle East swing — including the Qatar Open and Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships — Sabalenka has retained a significant lead at world No. 1. She currently holds more than a 3,000-point advantage over second-ranked Iga Swiatek, giving her a comfortable margin in the rankings despite her limited early-season schedule.

Indian Wells represents her first appearance since Melbourne and a return to a venue where she reached the final last season. In 2025, Sabalenka finished runner-up at the BNP Paribas Open after losing the championship match to Mirra Andreeva.

Speaking ahead of the tournament, Sabalenka expressed enthusiasm about returning to competition at the California desert event, often referred to by players as “Tennis Paradise.” “I'm super happy to be back at Tennis Paradise; it's a beautiful place. I really missed playing, so I can't wait to play my first match here.”

Beyond the upcoming tournament, Sabalenka also addressed one of the most discussed proposals in professional tennis this year — the possibility of introducing five-set matches in women’s competition. The idea was raised earlier this season by incoming United States Tennis Association (USTA) chief Craig Tiley during the Australian Open.

Sabalenka indicated she would welcome the change, arguing that her physical strength could make the format advantageous for her style of play. Known for her aggressive baseline game and endurance, she suggested longer matches might favour players with greater physical capacity.

“Yeah, let's do that,” the four-time Grand Slam singles champion said when asked about the idea. “I feel like I would have probably more Grand Slams. Physically I'm really strong, and I'm pretty confident that my body can handle that. So let's do it.”

The Belarusian acknowledged that such a change would require significant physical preparation across the tour but maintained that elite athletes should be capable of adapting to increased demands.

“If we were to do that eventually, I feel like I would probably have more Grand Slams. I feel like I'm physically very strong; I'm pretty sure my body could handle it, so hopefully it will happen. It would mean a lot of physical work for all players, but this is sports, and we should take care of ourselves. If we do it, I really think I would have an advantage.”

While debates about format changes continue, Sabalenka emphasised that her primary focus remains on improving her game rather than dwelling on rankings or past results. Her approach has been built around maintaining balance between competition and life away from the court.

“I'm good at balancing everything related to pressure; I have a lot of fun off the court, so that helps me to be very focused and strong on the court later on. What is pressure really? We all feel pressure; I just don't tend to dwell on it. Right now, I'm focusing on the things I need to do on the court, how to develop my game, basically, how to improve.”

The world No. 1 also reflected on her mindset entering each new season, describing it as a fresh starting point regardless of past achievements or points to defend in the rankings. “There are still some things I'm carrying over from last season, but I feel like each year is a new beginning for me," the 2-time Indian Wells finalist added. "I'm trying to be the best I can in every match I play, not focusing on the points to defend or what happened last year, those kinds of things. I feel I'm pretty good at turning the page, just moving forward.”

Sabalenka’s team environment has also gained a lighter element recently with the addition of a new companion — a young dog named Ash belonging to her fitness trainer. The four-month-old puppy has become a small but noticeable presence during practice sessions and travel.

“I think he's the cutest dog in the world. Actually, my fitness trainer has him; he got him in Seattle, so he spent some days with Jason. That's when I met him; he's almost four months old, he's adorable. He's a little fluffy thing, very sweet, cute, and brings a lot of joy and fun to the team.”

With her ranking lead intact and confidence high after the early-season results, Sabalenka now turns her attention to Indian Wells. The tournament offers another opportunity to build momentum in 2026 while also seeking to go one step further than last year’s runner-up finish in the California desert