Aryna Sabalenka showcased her resilience on Tuesday by overcoming a challenging match against Laura Siegemund to secure her place in the Wimbledon semifinals. Despite trailing by a set and twice losing a break in the third, Sabalenka managed to clinch victory with a 4-6, 6-2, 6-4 win at Centre Court.
“She pushed me so much,” Sabalenka, currently ranked No. 1 since last October, reflected post-match. “After the first set, I was just looking at my box, thinking, ‘Guys, I mean, book the tickets. I think we’re about to leave this beautiful city, country, place.’”
Sabalenka’s Quest for a Wimbledon Final
Sabalenka, a 27-year-old from Belarus, is yet to reach a title match at the All England Club, making Wimbledon the only Grand Slam where she hasn’t played a final. She boasts two Australian Open titles and a US Open victory, with recent runner-up finishes at this year’s Australian Open and French Open, losing to Madison Keys and Coco Gauff respectively.
Her match against Siegemund was a test of patience and strategy. The 37-year-old German, ranked 104th, presented an unorthodox style that disrupted Sabalenka’s usual power play. Known for her ability to vary the depth, speed, angles, and spins, Siegemund had previously eliminated No. 6 seed Keys. She entered with the lowest ranking and fewest career titles among the quarterfinalists but demonstrated how her unconventional tactics could unsettle top players.
Sabalenka admitted to feeling frustrated, especially during the final set. “It’s not like it’s an annoying game. It’s a smart game. She’s really making everyone work against her,” she said. “You know you have to work for every point. It doesn’t matter if you’re a big server, if you’re a big hitter. You have to work. You have to run. And you have to earn the win.”
Looking Ahead to the Semifinals
Sabalenka’s persistence paid off as she broke Siegemund’s serve to open her match-ending run. In a critical moment, she delivered her only two aces of the match, clocking in at 103 mph and 116 mph. Her victory was sealed with a volley winner, prompting a celebratory scream and a wide-armed gesture of triumph.
In the upcoming semifinals on Thursday, Sabalenka will face either Amanda Anisimova, seeded 13th, or the 50th-ranked Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova. The latter experienced an unusual incident during a previous match when the electronic line-calling system malfunctioned at Centre Court.
Meanwhile, Taylor Fritz advanced to the men’s semifinals for the first time at Wimbledon, defeating Karen Khachanov with a 6-3, 6-4, 1-6, 7-6 (4) scoreline. Fritz, the No. 5 seed and last year’s US Open runner-up, will next face either Carlos Alcaraz or Cam Norrie, whose match was scheduled later on Tuesday.
As Wimbledon progresses, the anticipation builds for both the players and the fans, with the promise of thrilling matches ahead.
