Aryna Sabalenka, world No. 1, has clinched her spot in the Wimbledon women’s singles quarterfinals after a hard-fought 6-4, 7-6(4) victory over her former doubles partner Elise Mertens of Belgium. The match, lasting just over 90 minutes, showcased Sabalenka’s blend of raw power and strategic shot-making.
Viewers from Tokyo to Toronto tuned in to catch the battle, proof that tennis unites a global fanbase across time zones and cultures.
Sabalenka surged to a 4-1 lead in the first set with blistering groundstrokes, but Mertens battled back to level at 4-4. The Belarusian, undeterred, won eight of the next 11 points to seal the set and assert her dominance early on.
In the second set, Mertens grabbed an early break before Sabalenka rallied to tie it at 3-3. After six consecutive holds, the set went to a tiebreak, where telltale aggression from Sabalenka’s forehand forced errors from Mertens and set up a volleyed winner that closed out the match.
Now the only one of the top six seeds still standing in the women’s draw, Sabalenka has yet to reach an All England Club final but arrives in the last eight as the player to beat. Her 10th consecutive singles win over Mertens highlights a head-to-head edge few can rival on tour.
Next up is Germany’s Laura Siegemund, who makes her own deep run this year, in a quarterfinal clash scheduled for Tuesday. As Wimbledon intensifies, all eyes are on whether Sabalenka can turn this momentum into a maiden title at the grass-court Grand Slam.
Reference(s):
Sabalenka downs Mertens to power into Wimbledon quarterfinals
cgtn.com
