Sabalenka Battles Past Siegemund to Reach Wimbledon Semifinals
World number one Aryna Sabalenka showcased her resilience as she overcame a fierce challenge from veteran Laura Siegemund to secure her spot in the Wimbledon semifinals. In a thrilling encounter that lasted 2 hours and 54 minutes—the third-longest match of this year’s Championships—Sabalenka rallied from a set down to win 4-6, 6-2, 6-4.
Siegemund, 37, was seeking her first victory over a world number one after four previous attempts. She came out strong, outlasting Sabalenka from the baseline and taking the first set 6-4. The German, aiming to become the oldest first-time Grand Slam semifinalist in the Open Era, continued to apply pressure in the decider, breaking early for a 2-1 lead.
However, Sabalenka, a runner-up at both the Australian Open and Roland Garros earlier this season, showed why she’s the top seed. The 27-year-old fought back, taking the second set convincingly at 6-2. Despite Siegemund’s efforts to keep her off-balance, Sabalenka regained her composure and closed out the match with a decisive 6-4 win in the final set.
With this victory, Sabalenka advanced to her 12th career Grand Slam semifinal and became the first player to qualify for this year’s WTA Finals. “It’s not like it’s an unknown game; it’s a smart game,” Sabalenka said of her opponent. “She makes everyone work against her. Going into the match, you know you have to work for every point. It doesn’t matter if you’re a big server or a big hitter—you have to earn the win.”
Looking ahead, Sabalenka will face Amanda Anisimova in the semifinals. Sabalenka added, “I was just trying to focus on myself and make sure I didn’t give her that energy. Even if I was a little bit annoyed at some points, I didn’t want her to see it. I was trying not to give her that energy.”
