July 4, 2025; Wimbledon, United Kingdom; Aryna Sabalenka serves the ball in his match against Emma Raducanu in Great Britain on the first day of All England Lawn and the Croquet Club tennis. Compulsory credit: Images of Susan Mullane-Imagn The seeded Aryna Sabalenka retained the challenge of Elise Mertens, beating the 24th seeded 6-4, 7-6 (4) on Sunday to move in the quarter-finals in Wimbledon.
Sabalenka was late 3-1 in the second set after a break of Mertens, but quickly paused to withdraw even on the Grass field in London.
A large part of the match was Vintage Sabalenka. She picked up points out of 84% of her first services, compared to 67% for Mertens. And while the two players had 18 uns forked mistakes, Sabalenka collected 36 winners – double the number of her friend Mertens.
“I am super satisfied with performance. It was a battle. She always brings an excellent tennis on the court and I am happy to have been able to get this victory,” said Sabalenka about Mertens.
“I mean, it is difficult to play against someone you are quite close, and she is a great player, a great person. It is difficult to face her. I know how smart she is. I know she will fight until the end and she will try to find something. She really challenges me today, so it’s difficult.”
Sabalenka, the world’s world n ° 1 in Bélarus, has not abandoned a set of this tournament. Until now, she is 3-in-3 in equality and qualified for her 11th consecutive quarterfinals in a Grand Slam.
In this quarter-final, to play on Tuesday, Sabalenka will meet Laura Siegemund from Germany, who advanced after defeating the lucky loss Solana Sierra of Argentina 6-3, 6-2. At 37, she is the oldest player who stays in the female draw and had never advanced beyond the second round in London.
She played in another quarter -final of the Grand Chelem – the Open of France 2020.
The Russian anastasia Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova has also progressed, which qualified for its second semi-final of Wimbledon by beating the favorite at home Sonny Kartal 7-6 (3), 6-4.
For a while, the match was wrapped in controversy when, while serving 4-4 in the opening set, the electronic line appellant did not activate on a point that clearly belonged to Pavlyuchenkova. Despite his protest, the point was ordered to play, and Kartal then won the match.
The Russian fell behind 5-4 but returned to break the Kartal service and send the match to an equality break.
The 34 -year -old man was able to shake him and were delighted to move forward. In her only other experience in the quarter-finals, she lost 6-4, 6-4 against Serena Williams in 2016.
“I always thought that I was not good enough on the grass, so it’s incredible for me,” said Pavlyuchenkova. “Especially with me aging, I am so impressed and proud to compete with young girls.”.
“My mental tenacity improves,” she continued. “I learn to fight up.”
In the next round, Pavlyuchenkova will meet the winner of the last match of the day between Amanda Anisimova, the seeded n ° 13, and the Czech Linda Noskova, who is the head of N ° 30.
– field level media