Soundly beaten by Swiatek, Sabalenka makes no excuses: "My game just didn't feel right".

Having come within a point of the title in Madrid, Aryna Sabalenka was this time dominated by an excellent Iga Swiatek (6-2, 6-3). Beaten twice in two tournaments by the same opponent, the Belarussian made no bones about it in her press conference. She explained that her rival had played a full match, while she herself had not managed to play her best tennis: "I didn't play well at all. I wasn't feeling my game. In the second set, I tried to be a little more aggressive. I tried to put her under a bit of pressure. I had a few opportunities to break her serve.

I know I have to stay aggressive and keep pushing her. There's little chance of her giving me an easy point. Maybe knowing that makes me rush a bit.

I think that's what I'll try to do differently next time I play her, so as not to rush things. It's obvious that Iga plays very intelligently. She's really good in all areas of the game. Her movements are incredible. You always know that you have to build the point and finish the point. Anyway, it's never going to be an easy point.

You really have to give 100%. I keep that in mind too much, and sometimes I try to overplay it. That's something I'm going to work on next week, trying to have confidence in myself, in my game, in my ability to stay in the point for as long as I need to."

Asked about her physical state, the world number 2 admitted to feeling some discomfort. As a reminder, Sabalenka's back was bothered throughout the tournament, particularly in the last 16 against Svitolina (win 4-6, 6-1, 7-6).

Without using her back as an excuse, she admits to having played with the handbrake on: "Today's defeat wasn't due to my back, but it's true that I felt some discomfort and I decided not to take too many risks, as I didn't want it to get worse before Roland Garros. I know I won't be the favorite there, but I want to do my best and I'm confident. I feel capable of reaching the final."