Aryna Sabalenka Under Fire as 23YO WTA Star Ignites Debate Over Controversial On-Court Moment

Recent events on the prestigious grass courts of Wimbledon have once again placed Aryna Sabalenka, the formidable Belarusian tennis star, squarely in the spotlight of controversy.¹ During her semi-final clash against American Amanda Anisimova, an incident unfolded that sparked widespread debate among fans and commentators alike, leaving Sabalenka visibly angered and prompting discussions about sportsmanship and the rules of the game.²

The contentious moment occurred in the second set of their gripping encounter. Anisimova, during a rally, unleashed a potent backhand down the line. Crucially, before the ball had even crossed the net and while Sabalenka was still attempting to reach it, Anisimova let out a triumphant cry of “Come on!” in premature celebration. Sabalenka, known for her intense on-court demeanor, immediately questioned the chair umpire, arguing that Anisimova’s vocal outburst constituted a “hindrance” – a rule designed to prevent players from disrupting their opponent’s play with noise or actions. Under the strict letter of tennis law, such an early celebration, particularly while an opponent is still attempting to play the ball, can indeed be deemed a hindrance and result in the loss of a point. Despite Sabalenka’s protest, the chair umpire opted to issue only a verbal warning to Anisimova, a decision that many watching, including seasoned television commentators, felt was lenient and that Anisimova was “extremely lucky” not to have been docked the point.

This incident immediately drew comparisons to a high-profile case from the 2011 US Open final, where Serena Williams was famously docked a point for celebrating too early in her loss to Sam Stosur. The echoes of that past controversy fueled the current debate, with many on social media pointing out the disparity in rulings. “I was just trying to chase the ball. She was already celebrating it. I mean, that’s a bit too early,” Sabalenka stated in her post-match press conference, her frustration still palpable.³

The situation escalated further in the third set. After Anisimova hit a lucky winner that clipped the net cord and trickled over, an unwritten rule of tennis etiquette suggests an apology or a raised hand in acknowledgment of the fortunate bounce. However, Anisimova, instead of offering the customary gesture, celebrated the point, further incensing Sabalenka. During a subsequent change of ends, the World No. 1 was seen directly confronting Anisimova, visibly asking, “You don’t want to say sorry?” Sabalenka later elaborated on her feelings about this interaction. “I just looked at her and, for sure, she didn’t hear me,” she recounted. “I was like, ‘You don’t want to say sorry?’ She just wanted, I guess, badly to win this match. It’s on her. If she doesn’t feel like saying sorry, like she barely got that point and she didn’t feel like saying sorry for that tricky situation, that’s on her.”⁴

The Belarus⁵ian superstar admitted that Anisimova’s actions, particularly her early celebration and the perceived lack of apology, fueled her competitive fire. Sabalenka revealed that Anisimova’s response to the umpire, suggesting that Sabalenka herself often engages in similar behavior, only intensified her resolve. “Then she kind of p***ed me off saying that, ‘oh, that’s what she does all the time’,” Sabalenka explained. “I was grateful she actually said that because it actually helped me to keep fighting. I’m like, ‘okay, now I’m going to show you the tennis’. I came back because I got really angry in that moment.” She even mused that perhaps she “probably in the third set I should have remembered” that anger to maintain her intensity.

The tennis community quickly weighed in, with opinions sharply divided. While some fans and pundits criticized Anisimova’s perceived lack of sportsmanship and questioned the umpire’s decision not to penalize her more severely for the hindrance, others turned the criticism back on Sabalenka. Her powerful grunting during points has long been a subject of discussion, with some arguing that her own vocalizations could, at times, constitute a hindrance to opponents. Comments proliferated on social media platforms, suggesting hypocrisy. “It was insanely early, but very rich coming from Sabalenka,” one user quipped. Another added, “Sabalenka complaining about Anisimova when Sabalenka screams to the point that it’s a legitimate hindrance to her opponents.” This past criticism of Sabalenka’s on-court volume added another layer to the heated discourse.

Beyond this specific match, Sabalenka has faced scrutiny for her behavior on other occasions this season. Following her loss to Coco Gauff in the French Open final, Sabalenka made remarks in her post-match press conference suggesting that Gauff won “not because she played incredible, [but] because I made all of those mistakes.”⁶ These comments were widely deemed “classless” and “unprofessional,” leading Sabalenka to later apologize to Gauff privately and publicly, acknowledging she “let my emotions get the better of me.”

Despite the mixed reactions, the incident at Wimbledon underscores the intense pressure and emotional stakes inherent in elite-level tennis. For Sabalenka, a player known for her powerful game and equally powerful emotions, these moments often become as much a part of her narrative as her towering serves and blistering groundstrokes. Her raw honesty in discussing her feelings post-match, even when it exposes her anger, offers a glimpse into the fierce competitive spirit that drives her, even if it occasionally ignites broader debates about conduct on the hallowed courts of the Grand Slams.