Preview Wimbledon 2025 ATP and WTA Day Nine: Aryna Sabalenka and Carlos Alcaraz lead opening Quarter-Final foray

The Quarter-Finals begin on Thursday 8 July at 2025 Wimbledon Championships with Aryna Sabalenka and Carlos Alcaraz heading up proceedings on Centre Court. Our preview looks ahead to the leading talking points and what to watch in the respective contests.

Aryna Sabalenka is up first on Centre Court and in reality shouldn't have too much of an issue on paper. But it is always hard to judge the paper that Laura Siegemund sits on.

The German veteran has been a leading beneficiary up until this point of the big names falling. She has seen off Peyton Stearns, Leylah Fernandez, Madison Keys. The latter was seen as the likely Quarter-Final opponent for Sabalenka but like anything tnat happening is a different matter.

Before she then saw off Solana Sierra. She has done all of this while not dropping a set. Losing early in Bad Homburg, she was also defeated by Rebecca Sramkova in Nottingham. But these warm-ups have often not meant too much as the champions for the most part have lost early anyway.

The 37-year-old is into a Grand Slam singles Quarter-Final for the first time since 2020 when she reached this point at the French Open. But for someone so decorated in doubles, she also finds her way to stay there or thereabouts in the singles too. Known for her tricky nature, it can go one of two ways this game. Either she troubles Sabalenka or gets blown away fairly easily.

Head-to-Head data wise, Sabalenka leads 2-0 albeit both meetings came back in 2019. A period before her dominance as World No.1. While she was troubled by Emma Raducanu at times last round all eyes will be on Sabalenka to lift the title and given her run-in, it's easy to see why.

Albeit danger could loom from the second Quarter-Final on Court One as Amanda Anisimova could be the one to await. While it has slightly diminished as Sabalenka has been picking up wins, Anisimova still leads 5-3 in a Head to Head contest that the Belarusian doesn't like. If the American can get through her Quarter-Final, the draw could be in huge trouble with Sabalenka being alongside Iga Swiatek and Mirra Andreeva the last big top 10 names left.

But Sabalenka is seen as the out and out favourite. Even if she faces Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, it is still tough and a game where the Russian is level 2-2 in the Head-to-Head and only beat her in three sets at the Australian Open earlier this year. So out of the two sections, it is perhaps the toughest one for Sabalenka to muster what she needs.

Anisimova has been sublime all tournament, while Pavlyuchenkova continues to revive herself when it looks like perhaps her career is stalling. She continues to find a way having reached this point of the tournament not only in the current era but also back in the Serena, Azarenka peak of their powers era. Longevity not marvelled at enough.

Fritz v Alcaraz in semi-finals?

Second up on Centre Court is the last remaining Brit as Cameron Norrie faces Carlos Alcaraz. Alcaraz has been solid if not unspectacular during his run so far.

Most games including last up against Andrey Rublev, he has faced hairy moments. Jannik Sinner though of course survived by the skin of his teeth through retirement and looked perhaps the player to beat so who knows on that side.

Novak Djokovic perhaps is the only player who has not had it as difficult apart from early against De Minaur but Alcaraz takes on Norrie who will be buoyed by the British crowd.

But also being the last Brit left. In a draw which saw Emma Raducanu and Jack Draper as the heralded leading lights, it is ironically Norrie who remains after all his injury troubles. He took down Nicolas Jarry in an epic last time out but has been in some battles this fortnight so how does that weather against Alcaraz.

The winner faces the Court One opener as Taylor Fritz takes on Karen Khachanov. The American had it slightly easier than his previous rounds as Jordan Thompson retired after a set. This after his previous wins over Alejandro Davidovich Fokina and Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard among other which were more arduous affairs.

Khachanov on the otherhand saw off Nuno Borges in five then Kamil Majchrzak in straight sets the last two rounds. He leads the Head-to-Head albeit all the way back in 2019 in Shanghai.

Fritz has to be favoured due to his grass court prowess and being in an unbeaten run since Eastbourne where he claimed the title. He will be expected to face Alcaraz in the semi-finals. But as the draw has gone so far, expect the unexpected.

2025 The Championships, Wimbledon (08-07)

Centre Court

Court 1

Court 2

Court 12

Awaiting Court Allocation