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Aryna Sabalenka Explains Fiery ‘Sorry’ Moment During Wimbledon Semifinal Clash with Amanda Anisimova: 'She Barely Got That Point'

Originally posted on FirstSportz | By Gouri Das | Last updated Jul 11, 2025 11:41 AM ET

Amanda Anisimova‘s conduct irked Aryna Sabalenka twice during their tight semifinal clash at Wimbledon on Thursday (July 10). That match Sabalenka failed to end in her favor, losing with a 6-4, 4-6, 6-4 scoreline.

Anisimova is one of the players who has always given tough competition to the World No.1. The semifinal win was her sixth one over Sabalenka in their careers’ ninth clash. In their two-hour, 37-minute match, Sabalenka lost her cool when, in the second set, Anisimova appeared to celebrate a backhand winner prematurely as the ball, at that moment, had not gone past Sabalenka.

Then in the third set, one of Anisimova’s shots hit the net cord. Players usually apologize by holding their hands up if this happens. But the American ace, after winning the point, only celebrated by punching the air.

And this behavior of hers left the three-time Grand Slam singles champion furious as she yelled: “You don’t want to say sorry?” After crashing out of the tournament, Sabalenka was asked about this moment at the press conference.

I just looked at her and I just…I mean, for sure, she didn’t hear me but I was just like, ‘You don’t want to say sorry?’ But she just wanted, I guess, badly, to win this match and 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.

Anisimova has now tied the win-loss record over Sabalenka to 1-1 this year. Before Wimbledon, they were pitted against each other in the fourth round of the French Open which Sabalenka won and later reached the final for the first time in her career, only to lose it to Coco Gauff.

"You don't want to say sorry?"

Aryna Sabalenka wasn't thrilled with Amanda Anisimova's reaction to a contentious point during their #Wimbledon semi-final clash… pic.twitter.com/W368OIUFuJ
— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) July 10, 2025

Sabalenka will now be chasing her fourth Grand Slam singles title at the US Open, which she lifted last year by beating home favorite Jessica Pegula. This year, she has now lost all her Grand Slam matches to American players. Before Gauff and Anisimova, the two-time Australian Open singles champion failed to complete the three-peat in Melbourne due to her defeat to Madison Keys in the final.

Anisimova, in the final, will be meeting Iga Swiatek. The five-time Grand Slam champion breezed past Belinda Bencic to secure a berth in the Wimbledon final for the first time in her career.

Aryna Sabalenka doesn’t think stricken fans affected her during the Wimbledon semifinal

During the first set of the Wimbledon semifinal, twice Aryna Sabalenka rushed toward spectators. She offered them a blue ice pack once and later, a water bottle, to help the ones who appeared to have collapsed due to the heat.

Because temperatures reached 31 degrees Celsius, those sitting in the lower levels that were not shaded were affected by heat the most. At the press conference later, Sabalenka was asked if those two interruptions in any way affected her performance.

I mean, it definitely didn’t interrupt the play and I think I feel like London is not ready for this weather. It was super hot and I can’t even imagine sitting on one place and the sun…like constantly hitting on you…and you got to be really prepared, stay hydrated and it can happen to everyone and I just hope they feel better and…it just didn’t interrupt in any ways.

An elderly woman had collapsed due to the heat during Carlos Alcaraz‘s first-round match against Fabio Fognini as well. The Spaniard aided her by giving her a water bottle.

While Sabalenka will try her luck at Wimbledon next year, the five-time Grand Slam champion will be completing the three-peat here if he beats Taylor Fritz in the semifinal and the winner of the Jannik Sinner versus Novak Djokovic match in the championship clash. He is also aiming to complete the Channel Slam for two consecutive seasons.

This article first appeared on FirstSportz and was syndicated with permission.

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