Wimbledon favorite Aryna Sabalenka defeated Grand Slam rookie Teodora Kostovic and delivered a pointed post-match press conference.
When Kostovic won her qualifying match June 25, she was asked about her dream opponent for the official tournament: “I want to face Aryna Sabalenka!” she said.
Days later, Kostovic was paired with Sabalenka. Asked about the matchup, Kostovic remained confident.
“Let’s see if she can deal with my power,” she said. “Of course I can beat her. I can beat anybody when I’m in the zone.” (RELATED: Former Wimbledon Champion Marketa Vondrousova Suspended Until 2030 For Refusing Doping Test)
As a junior competitor, Kostovic, 19, had never lost at Wimbledon and made sure to reference that success before the match.
“I’ve never lost here,” Kostovic said. “I feel like this is my court.”
Aryna Sabalenka in press after her win over Kostovic at Wimbledon
“I think she said that she wants to see if I can handle her power… so scary.”
😭😭😭😭😭😭 pic.twitter.com/aDKnTu6RGB
— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) June 30, 2026
Sabalenka backed up her status as the top ranked women’s tennis player, defeating Kostovic in straight sets, 6-2, 6-3. After the match, she referenced Kostovic’s prematch comments.
“I think she said she wants to see if I can handle her power,” Sabalenka said with a laugh. “So scary.”
Sabalenka’s second-round match is scheduled for July 1 against American competitor McCartney Kessler.