Aryna Sabalenka, the world’s top-ranked women’s tennis player, etched her name into the annals of tennis history at Wimbledon 2025, achieving a feat not seen on the WTA Tour since Serena Williams in 2015. By battling her way into the semifinals at the All England Club, Sabalenka amassed 12,420 ranking points, becoming the first woman in a decade to surpass the 12,000-point mark in a single season. This milestone, coupled with her relentless pursuit of a maiden Wimbledon title, underscores her dominance and resilience, even as she fell short in a thrilling 6-4, 4-6, 6-4 semifinal loss to Amanda Anisimova. Sabalenka’s journey, marked by grit and growth, has captivated fans and redefined her legacy as one of the sport’s most formidable forces.
The Belarusian’s path to the Wimbledon semifinals was anything but straightforward. Facing Laura Siegemund in the quarterfinals, Sabalenka endured a grueling 2-hour-54-minute battle, clawing back from a set down to win 4-6, 6-2, 6-4. Siegemund’s crafty slices and drop shots tested Sabalenka’s patience, prompting moments of visible frustration, including a racket slam against her head. “I was struggling because she was playing a really smart game,” Sabalenka admitted, reflecting on the match. “I made a lot of unforced errors – unnecessary ones.” Yet, her ability to refocus, delivering aces and a crucial backhand volley, showcased her evolution. “I’m really proud that I handled myself well and didn’t repeat the same mistake I did at the French Open,” she said, alluding to her emotional unraveling in the Roland Garros final against Coco Gauff.
Sabalenka’s 2025 season has been a testament to her consistency, with three titles—at Brisbane, Miami, and Madrid—and a tour-leading 51 match wins. Her Wimbledon campaign, where she reached her third semifinal at the event, solidified her as the first woman to reach the quarterfinals at all three Grand Slams in 2025 without dropping a set in the first four rounds. This remarkable run included a 6-4, 7-6(4) victory over former doubles partner Elise Mertens in the fourth round, a match where Sabalenka’s familiarity with Mertens’ game proved decisive. “I am super happy with the performance. It was a battle,” she said, acknowledging the challenge of facing a friend and former champion. Her 16 Grand Slam match wins in 2025, more than any other woman, highlight her status as a perennial contender.
Despite her loss to Anisimova, Sabalenka’s perspective remained forward-looking. The American, resurgent after a mental health break, outplayed Sabalenka in a match defined by power and precision, with Anisimova’s backhand neutralizing Sabalenka’s forehand. “She was the braver player,” Sabalenka conceded, praising her opponent’s aggression. “I think even though I lost a lot of finals, I lost tough matches at the Slams this year, I still think that the consistency I was able to bring till this moment, it’s impressive.” Her 12,420 ranking points, a 4,751-point lead over world No. 2 Coco Gauff, reflect a season of sustained excellence, unmatched since Williams’ dominance a decade ago.
Sabalenka’s Wimbledon journey was not without its challenges. A shoulder injury forced her withdrawal in 2024, and her 0-3 record in Wimbledon semifinals—losses to Karolina Pliskova in 2021, Ons Jabeur in 2023, and now Anisimova—has left her with a self-described “hate relationship” with the tournament. “I really hope that one day I will turn it around and have a love relationship,” she said, her humor masking the sting of defeat. A moment of tension arose when Sabalenka felt Anisimova celebrated a point prematurely, admitting it “pissed me off,” but she quickly regained composure, joking with reporters to avoid a repeat of her controversial Roland Garros press conference. “You’re not going to see the Roland Garros press conference, so anyone who was waiting for that can leave right now!” she quipped.
As Sabalenka prepares for the North American hard-court swing, her 12 career Grand Slam semifinals—second only to Maria Sharapova in recent decades—signal her hunger for more. “These tough defeats help me to come back much stronger,” she said, eyeing a potential fourth major title to add to her 2023 and 2024 Australian Open crowns and 2024 US Open triumph. Her ability to learn from setbacks, like her French Open loss to Gauff, has refined her mental game, making her a formidable force. With a 12-1 record in Grand Slam quarterfinals and a WTA Finals qualification secured, Sabalenka’s 2025 season is a masterclass in resilience. As she chases her dream of lifting the Venus Rosewater Dish, her historic points milestone cements her as a trailblazer, carrying the torch of consistency lit by Williams a decade ago.
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