Sabalenka Eyes Wimbledon Final as Swiatek Showdown Approaches
Aryna Sabalenka is on the brink of reaching her fourth consecutive Grand Slam final, setting the stage for a potential high-stakes clash with rival Iga Swiatek at Wimbledon. The world No. 1 is gearing up for a crucial semifinal against American 13th seed Amanda Anisimova on Thursday.
Sabalenka has shown remarkable form at the All England Club, not dropping a set in her first four matches. However, her quarterfinal against 104th-ranked Laura Siegemund proved a test of resilience. The Belarusian found herself twice a break down in the deciding set but ultimately triumphed after nearly three hours of intense play, winning 4-6, 6-2, 6-4.
The 27-year-old is determined to reach her first Wimbledon final after winning the US Open last year, marking her third major title. Despite her success, she has faced heartbreaking defeats in the finals of both the Australian Open and the French Open this year.
Sabalenka acknowledges the challenge posed by Anisimova, who has won five of their eight previous meetings. However, she emerged victorious in their most recent encounter at the French Open last month. “I definitely think this surface suits her game really well,” Sabalenka noted. “It’s going to be very aggressive tennis, I think.”
Anisimova, who advanced to the semifinals by defeating Russia’s Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, is enjoying a remarkable comeback after returning from a mental health sabbatical at the start of the 2024 season. The 23-year-old is set to break into the top ten for the first time, matching her best Grand Slam singles result from the 2019 French Open.
Should Sabalenka overcome Anisimova, she may face Swiatek in the final. The former world No. 1, seeded eighth, has quietly advanced through the tournament, dropping only one set so far. Swiatek, who won junior Wimbledon in 2018, is back in the top four after reaching her first grass court final last month at Bad Homburg.
After her quarterfinal win against Liudmila Samsonova, Swiatek expressed her excitement, saying, “It feels great. I’m super happy and super proud of myself.”
On the other side of the draw, former junior champion Belinda Bencic, who recently made a comeback after giving birth, will challenge Swiatek in the semifinals. Bencic shared her pride in balancing motherhood with her tennis career, emphasizing the support from her family and team.
