World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus stormed into the Wimbledon women’s singles quarterfinals on Sunday, defeating her former doubles partner Elise Mertens of Belgium in straight sets.
Sabalenka, seeking her first Wimbledon final, showcased her dominance on the grass courts with a 6-4, 7-6(4) victory over Mertens. Despite a challenging match that tested both players’ skills, Sabalenka proved why she’s the top seed remaining in the women’s draw.
The match began with Sabalenka taking a swift 4-1 lead in the first set. Mertens, however, fought back to level the score at 4-4. Unfazed, Sabalenka regained control by winning eight of the next eleven points to claim the set.
In the second set, Mertens secured an early break, but Sabalenka’s resilience shone through as she broke back to even the score at 3-3. The set progressed to a tense tiebreak, where Sabalenka’s powerful groundstrokes kept Mertens on the defensive. A decisive volley sealed Sabalenka’s victory after just over 90 minutes on court.
Sabalenka and Mertens, who previously won the 2019 US Open and 2021 Australian Open doubles titles together, showcased their familiarity with each other’s games. However, Sabalenka has now bested Mertens in their last ten singles encounters.
Looking ahead, Sabalenka will face Germany’s Laura Siegemund in the quarterfinals on Tuesday. With her eyes set on a maiden Wimbledon title, Sabalenka remains the player to beat in this year’s tournament.
