Aryna Sabalenka had a somewhat mocking response after defeating Teodora Kostovic in the first round of Wimbledon, poking fun at the Serbian teenager’s confident pre-match comments about her power.
Following her 6-2 6-3 first-round victory on Monday, the world No. 1 was reminded in her post-match press conference of what Kostovic had said before the match. Unable to hide her laughter, Sabalenka said:
I think she said that she wants to see if I can handle her power… so scary. It’s good that she has that self-belief, it’s a good thing to have.
Sabalenka was referring to remarks Kostovic made after qualifying for her maiden Grand Slam main draw at Wimbledon. After defeating Zhu Lin 6-3 6-4 in the final round of qualifying, Kostovic was asked which player she wanted to face in the main draw. The current world No. 184, who turned her focus to the professional tour in 2025 and rose from No. 898 to No. 190 in the rankings by the end of the year, didn’t hesitate:
I want to face [Aryna] Sabalenka!
She got exactly what she wished for, as the draw paired her with the top seed in the opening round.
Ahead of the match, scheduled just a day after her 19th birthday, Kostovic maintained her bold approach:
Let’s see if she can deal with my power. Of course I can beat her. I can beat anybody when I’m in the zone.
Her confidence was widely praised by fans, who appreciated the youngster’s fearless attitude and the extra spice she brought to the matchup. As she put it, her character is that of a fighter who never gives up, even when down 6-0 5-0 40-0.
In the end, however, Sabalenka proved too strong, easing past the Serbian on Centre Court before delivering a controversial response to Kostovic’s pre-match confidence in the press room. The Belarusian’s remark divided opinion, with some finding it amusing and others calling it classless, especially given that Kostovic is still an up-and-coming player.