No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka earned a hard-fought 6-4, 7-6 (4) win Sunday over No. 24 Elise Mertens — with whom she has gained two Grand Slam doubles titles — to succeed in the Wimbledon quarterfinals.
Sabalenka has now made the quarterfinals of the previous 11 majors she has appeared in (she missed Wimbledon in 2024 with a shoulder harm). Because the begin of 2000, solely Serena Williams has an extended streak on the ladies’s aspect, having made 16 straight main quarterfinal appearances from 2000 to 2005.
Sabalenka got here into the match on Centre Court docket having overwhelmed Mertens 10 instances in 12 conferences — essentially the most for her towards any participant on the WTA Tour — and the one-sided rivalry appeared set to proceed after she raced out to a 4-1 lead.
However Mertens battled again to stage the primary set at 4-all earlier than Sabalenka recovered to safe the break off a searing backhand crosscourt winner and declare the opening set.
The second set progressed to a tiebreak, the place Sabalenka has been all however unbeatable in 2025, having not misplaced one since February in Doha. She improved to 16-1 in tiebreaks this yr and with that secured her spot within the quarterfinals.
“I am tremendous proud of the efficiency,” stated Sabalenka, who has but to drop a set this event. “It was a battle. She at all times brings nice tennis on court docket and I am comfortable I used to be capable of get this win. It is powerful to play towards somebody you are fairly near, and he or she’s an amazing participant, an amazing individual.
“It is difficult going through her. … I do know that she’s going to combat until the very finish and he or she’ll be looking for one thing. She actually challenged me right now.”
Sabalenka will subsequent play Laura Siegemund, the 37-year-old German who adopted up her elimination of Australian Open champ Madison Keys by beating fortunate loser Solana Sierra 6-3, 6-2.
“Together with your help, guys, I feel every thing is feasible,” Sabalenka stated, addressing the Wimbledon crowd that has warmed to her over the previous week as she seeks her first title on the All England Membership.
Siegemund turned the oldest lady to succeed in her first profession Wimbledon quarterfinal.
When her age was talked about throughout an on-court interview, the group applauded, and Siegemund joked: “It isn’t that always you get such a praise for being outdated.”
Siegemund stated she was heading into the match towards Sabalenka with a risk-free method as she seeks to succeed in her first main semifinal.
“She’s one of many biggest gamers that now we have and one of the aggressive additionally,” Siegemund instructed reporters. “The one advantage of that match is that I’ve completely nothing to lose. But it surely’s undoubtedly one of many hardest opponents to have on grass.”
Siegemund performed warmup occasions in Nottingham and Dangerous Homburg in a shift from her regular routine of maintaining her grass-court season quick after the lengthy clay swing, and acknowledged she was reaping the rewards at Wimbledon.
“I at all times felt on grass that by the point I begin to really feel the sport and I begin to play higher, it is already over. That was the way it just about went yearly,” she stated. “This time I had extra matches, and I had extra alternative to get this confidence, and it is displaying.”
ESPN Analysis, The Related Press and Reuters contributed to this report.