'I have to keep fighting' -Aryna Sabalenka gets candid on tough victory over Laura Siegemund as Wimbledon semis await

World No.1 Aryna Sabalenka faced the biggest challenge of her Wimbledon campaign on Tuesday, battling past veteran Laura Siegemund in three sets. Subsequently, Sabalenka revealed she had to rely on her past experience from big matches in order to push through to the semifinals.

The top seed was yet to drop a set at SW19, defeating former doubles partner Elise Mertens in the round of 16. However, Sabalenka faced a much more difficult test in Siegemund, as the crafty German claimed the first set. Nonetheless, it was the former Australian Open champion who prevailed, battling back to escape with a 4-6 6-2 6-4 victory.

The French Open final loss helped motivate her, admits Sabalenka

During her post-match conference, the Belarusian delved into her mindset during the match. Sabalenka admitted to channeling her negative emotions from the 2025 Roland Garros; final which she lost to Coco Gauff in three sets, and using that energy to push through in her close encounter against Siegemund.

“Honestly, I think there’s a big possibility I would’ve lost this match if I hadn’t learned that lesson at the French Open," disclosed Sabalenka. "And in some moments I kept reminding myself, ‘come on, it’s a quarterfinal of Wimbledon. You cannot give up. You cannot let the emotions take over you and lose another match.’
"I was just reminding myself that it’s my dream. Why would I give up so easily? So I have to keep fighting. That’s basically it. I kept telling myself that. I was willing to push myself and get those tough points."

Although Siegemund's Wimbledon journey comes to an end, Sabalenka now has the opportunity to advance to her maiden final at SW19. The World No.1 will take on American Amanda Anisimova in what is sure to be a hard-hitting encounter, with the 20th seed defeating Russian Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova in straight sets. Anisimova leads Sabalenka 5-3 in career meetings.