On July 10, 2025, the Wimbledon women’s semifinals delivered a dramatic showdown as World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka fell to Amanda Anisimova in a thrilling 6-4, 4-6, 6-4 battle on Centre Court. The match, a near three-hour test of skill and nerve, saw Anisimova, the 13th seed, secure her first Grand Slam final berth against Iga Świątek. However, the clash was overshadowed by moments of friction, as Sabalenka expressed frustration over Anisimova’s on-court behavior, particularly an early celebration and a failure to apologize for a net cord point. “I was like, ‘You don’t want to say sorry?’” Sabalenka remarked, her irritation palpable as she reflected on a pivotal third-set moment. The Belarusian’s candid post-match comments, tempered by humor and self-awareness, highlighted her growth since a controversial French Open press conference while underscoring the emotional intensity of her latest Wimbledon setback.
The match was a rollercoaster, intensified by sweltering 30-degree heat that saw two spectators faint, prompting a compassionate Sabalenka to offer water during a 20-minute delay. Anisimova, leveraging her 6-3 head-to-head edge over Sabalenka, played with fearless aggression, saving 11 of 14 break points and sealing victory with a stunning forehand winner on her fourth match point. “She was more brave today,” Sabalenka conceded, acknowledging Anisimova’s boldness. “Maybe when I was just trying to stay in the point, she was going for all. She was playing more aggressive.” Yet, two incidents fueled Sabalenka’s frustration. In the second set, at 3-2 and 30-30, Anisimova let out a shout—perceived by Sabalenka as a premature celebration—while Sabalenka scrambled to chase a ball. “I was just trying to chase the ball. She was already celebrating it. I was like, ‘I mean, that’s a bit too early,’” Sabalenka said, admitting the moment sparked her fight. “She kind of pissed me off saying, ‘That’s what she does all the time.’ I was grateful that she said that because it actually helped me to keep fighting.”
The tension peaked in the third set when Anisimova’s forehand clipped the net cord, trickling over for a crucial point. Instead of the customary apologetic gesture, Anisimova raised her hands in celebration, prompting Sabalenka’s pointed remark: “I just looked at her and, for sure, she didn’t hear me, but I was like, ‘You don’t want to say sorry?’ She just wanted, I guess, badly to win this match.” Anisimova, unaware of the issue, clarified, “I wasn’t celebrating. It was just a long grunt, I guess. I don’t really know what was the deal there, to be honest, because I didn’t feel like it was that interfering.” Despite the friction, the players shared a gracious hug at the net, with Anisimova praising Sabalenka: “She’s such a tough competitor, and I was dying out there. She’s an inspiration to me and so many other people.”
Sabalenka’s post-match press conference reflected her effort to avoid repeating the backlash from her French Open loss to Coco Gauff, where her comments about Gauff’s play drew criticism. “Are you guys waiting for something? You’re not going to see a Roland-Garros press conference,” she quipped, signaling her intent to stay composed. “I just don’t want to face that hate again. We all can lose control over our emotions. It’s absolutely normal.” She admitted the sting of defeat: “Losing sucks. You always feel like you want to die, you don’t want to exist anymore, and this is the end of your life. But then you sit there a little bit, and you think about what you could have done differently.” Her 47-9 record in 2025, with titles in Miami and Madrid, underscores her dominance, but Wimbledon remains elusive, marking her third straight semifinal exit.
Anisimova’s victory, a landmark in her comeback after a 2023 mental health break, propels her to a career-high ranking of world No. 7. “This doesn’t feel real right now,” she said, marveling at her journey. “To come out on top today is so incredibly special.” As she prepares to face Świątek, Sabalenka’s fiery exit—marked by sportsmanship, frustration, and reflection—adds another chapter to her complex narrative, leaving fans eager for her next move at the Canadian Open.
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