LONDON: Aryna Sabalenka avoided a huge upset at Wimbledon by staging a comeback win to oust German underdog Laura Siegemund 4-6, 6-2, 6-4, in a roller-coaster match.
The world No.1 was down a break twice during the final set but managed to find a way to claim victory after almost three hours of play on the court. Siegemund, who had never gone beyond the second round at Wimbledon until this year, frustrated a highly charged Sabalenka throughout the match with some clever game play.
It is the third time Sabalenka has reached the last four at The All England Club after 2021 and 2023, but she is yet to reach the final. Siegemund is the only player to have taken a set off her so far in the tournament.
“She pushed me so much, honestly, after the first set, I was saying to my box, ‘book the tickets, we are about to leave this beautiful city’, but she played an incredible tournament. I’m so happy to win, the atmosphere was incredible,” Sabalenka said afterwards.
“It’s a smart game; she makes everyone work against her, you have to work for every point.”
Siegemund, who entered the match having already beaten two top 10 players in Grand Slams this season, proved instantly that she belonged on this stage at Wimbledon after breaking Sabalenka twice to open up a 3-0 lead. The German did a good job of absorbing Sabalenka’s powerful hitting and utilised the drop shot to great effect. The top seed tried to claw her way to draw level but was unable to do so, hitting a backhand long, which moved Siegemund into a position to serve the first set out at 5-2.
It was at this point that the underdog started to show her first signs of nerves. An error-stricken game enabled Sabalenka to break back and close the gap to 4-5. Despite that blip, Siegemund managed to weather the storm to clinch the opener in just under an hour.
After dropping her first set in the tournament, Sabalenka came roaring back to draw level by breaking Siegemund in three out of her four service games during the second frame, as well as saving three out of four break points she faced.
In the decider, Siegemund’s play started to visibly frustrate Sabalenka, who smashed the top of the net with her racket after missing a shot when down 1-3. To make it worse, she clawed her way back to draw level before another error-stricken service game handed the advantage back to her opponent.
But still, Sabalenka managed to find a way to prevail. She has now reached the last four of a major in 10 out of her last 11 appearances. Making her the second woman to do so since 2000, after Serena Williams.
“It’s beautiful if you’ve made it to the second week (of a Grand Slam), it means that you’re achieving your dreams,” she said.
“It’s all about balancing. It’s hard work, but you also have to live and enjoy your life.
“I think that is really important and it has helped me enjoy these battles.”
