“Whenever I feel like going crazy, I pet Ash”: Aryna Sabalenka on the mental support behind her new dog

World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka continued her strong run at the 2026 BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells, delivering a composed performance to defeat Naomi Osaka and advance further into the tournament. After the match, the Belarusian spoke about the tactical approach that helped her control the contest, highlighting her aggressive returning and the pressure she managed to apply during key moments.

The interview also offered a lighter moment as Sabalenka appeared with her new Cavalier King Charles Spaniel puppy, Ash, who briefly took centre stage at the Tennis Channel desk. While the focus remained on her victory over Osaka, Sabalenka explained that the dog has already become an important source of balance during the demanding tennis season.

They had only one previous meeting — back in the 2018 US Open, precisely during Osaka’s campaign to her first major title — but since then they had not faced each other again. It was a straightforward victory for the world No. 1, 6–2, 6–4, and for the third time she advances with a win in straight sets.

Sabalenka maintained consistency from the serve, landing 75% of first serves and winning 76% of those points — numbers well above those of the Japanese player, who recorded 63% first serves and won 58% of them. Sabalenka secured three breaks while Osaka had none, bringing the Japanese player’s tournament to an end. Osaka will still move up one position in the rankings and is set to sit as world No. 15 at the conclusion of the event.

Sabalenka said she was particularly pleased with the way she executed her tactical plan against Osaka. The Belarusian focused on stepping inside the court on second-serve returns, attempting to reduce Osaka’s time and immediately dictate the direction of rallies.

The world No. 1 described her overall performance as balanced, pointing to both her serving and the variety she introduced during baseline exchanges. That combination allowed her to sustain pressure on Osaka throughout the match. “I’m super happy with the level I played. I’m happy with the way I served and how I played. I’m happy with the way I put her under pressure and the variety that I brought today on court.”

Sabalenka also noted that her approach to second-serve returns has become a key tactical priority in recent seasons. Against Osaka, she felt the need to intensify that strategy even further in order to neutralise the Japanese player’s powerful baseline game.

“I think overall, in all the matches I play, I try to put extra pressure on the second serve and be more aggressive," the 4-time major champion added. "But today I just felt like I had to step in and put even more pressure on her so she had to deal with that power and speed by herself.”

While Sabalenka’s performance on court remained the primary focus, her new puppy Ash quickly became a talking point during the post-match interview. The world No. 1 explained that the dog has already had a noticeable impact on her mindset during the season.

Sabalenka said the puppy provides emotional balance during the long and demanding schedule of the WTA Tour. She described Ash as a form of mental support that helps her reset when the pressures of competition and travel begin to accumulate. “Just the mental health support, you know. I feel like I’m much more settled, more calm, more in control. Whenever I feel like going crazy on my team, I just pet Ash and I feel better.”

The dog’s name also has a connection to tennis history. Sabalenka revealed that she and her fiancé had made a deal tied to the US Open, and the final choice of name was inspired by a legendary figure in the sport. “We had a deal with Anton (Dubrov, her coach). If I win US Open, we get a dog,” stated the 2-time US Open champion. “And we felt like it had to be related to New York. Apple didn’t sound right, so we thought about Arthur Ashe. Ash it is.”