
Aryna Sabalenka praised for gesture to fan after umpire halts Wimbledon semi
Sabalenka was desperately trying to hold serve during the first set of her clash with Amanda Anisimova when she noticed a fan needed medical assistance in the stands.
Match stewards and medical staff were quick to attend to the supporter, who was covered from the baking sun by an umbrella.
Sabalenka put thoughts on the game and her Wimbledon campaign to one side by retrieving a bottle of water and an ice park from her chair and offering it to nearby stewards. More Trending
Centre Court applauded the world number one's gesture, while Sabalenka was called a 'class act' by fans on social media.
The umpire decided to halt the match while the fan received medical treatment.
When the semi-final resumed, Sabalenka secured a crucial hold to keep the first set finely posted.
More to follow…
MORE: Novak Djokovic has broken one Wimbledon record – Jannik Sinner will deny him another
MORE: Carlos Alcaraz has shown one weakness at Wimbledon that 'servebot' Taylor Fritz can exploit
MORE: Aryna Sabalenka seems invincible at Wimbledon – but here's how to beat her

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Daily Mirror
an hour ago
- Daily Mirror
Jannik Sinner makes demand to coaches as Carlos Alcaraz feelings become clear
Jannik Sinner was able to come from a set down to beat Carlos Alcaraz in the Wimbledon final, and the detail put into his preparations demonstrates the respect he has for his rival Jannik Sinner's sensational Wimbledon victory over Carlos Alcaraz came as a result of painstaking research into his opponent. The Italian's meticulous preparation for this particular adversary is a testament to the deep respect he holds for a man he looks set to face many times in the coming years. The young guns were once hailed as the future of tennis but are now the new powerhouses set to rule the Grand Slam courts for some time. Wimbledon champ Sinner's dedication to studying his opponents is well-known, yet it's Alcaraz who garners extra attention in his strategy sessions. This insight comes straight from coach Darren Cahill, who has revealed the extent of Sinner's focus on Alcaraz following his recent string of successes. This includes four major titles out of the last seven majors held, and he now sits just one trophy from completing the career Grand Slam. Sinner's background work underscores the esteem in which the world No. 1 holds Alcaraz, who looks certain to be the main adversary of his career. Every major final since the start of 2024 has had at least one of the pair featuring, and the signs were clear on Sunday that there's a mutual reverence between them. "I would say we're preparing for everybody, not just one player," said Cahill after Sunday's win (via the Daily Express). "Because if you prepare somebody for just one player, other players are going to sneak up on you and cause huge problems. There are so many variations in playing styles these days. "The way he played today against Carlos isn't going to work against Ben Shelton or Alexander Zverev. So you have to prepare a player to face all kinds of possibilities. But Carlos is a big focus, and they're both pushing each other. "I would say Jannik watches more of Carlos' matches than any other player, because he's fascinated by the improvements that are happening in Carlos' game, and he puts pressure on us as coaches to make sure he improves as a player, too. So the rivalry is real. It exists. And hopefully it will continue to exist for the next 10 or 12 years." Sinner's meticulous study of Alcaraz's play was evident in the Wimbledon decider. It was there he exploited the Spaniard's forehand to create opportunities against the backhand, a strategy that saw him rally from behind to clinch victory. The Italian, who earned a cool £3million in London, displayed his prowess at the net in particular. He made nearly double the net approaches compared to Alcaraz, which proved to be a key element in keeping the Spaniard on the backfoot. Alcaraz, 22, has been bested by Sinner in both of their grass encounters to date. That includes a last-16 matchup at Wimbledon three years prior. Sinner advanced to Sunday's finale after benefiting from Grigor Dimitrov's retirement in their fourth-round duel while he was losing by two sets. And although Cahill has suggested he was confident in his player turning the tide in that clash, it certainly didn't look as certain from the outside. That outcome serves as evidence that there's still room for improvement in his game, and he might not have made it to the finals had Dimitrov not suffered his pectoral injury. However, his research on Alcaraz was spot on. Sinner is set to begin his defence of the US Open title in August when the fourth and final major of 2025 kicks off at Flushing Meadows. This could necessitate further preparation to overcome a rejuvenated Alcaraz, who will be more determined than ever to settle the score with his main adversary.


Daily Mirror
an hour ago
- Daily Mirror
Jannik Sinner's 'difficult' talk with Kate Middleton and kids at Wimbledon final
Jannik Sinner was crowned Wimbledon champion following his victory over Carlos Alcaraz on Centre Court as the Italian spoke to Prince George and Princess Charlotte Tennis sensation Jannik Sinner wowed the Wimbledon crowd and gave Prince George and Princess Charlotte a day to remember as they chatted with the newly-crowned champion. The young royals, alongside their parents, had prime seats in the Royal Box on Centre Court, where they watched Sinner triumph over Spain's Carlos Alcaraz. The 23-year-old clinched his first Wimbledon title by defeating Alcaraz 4-6, 6-4, 6-4, 6-4. After the match, video footage captured Prince George, 11, and Princess Charlotte, 10, sharing a special moment with the Wimbledon winner, who gifted them a keepsake. Their mother, the Princess of Wales, who had received a standing ovation at Wimbledon the previous day, looked on as her children engaged with Sinner. The tennis star signed three small green tennis balls for the Royal youngsters and handed them to Princess Charlotte. Despite his calm demeanour on Centre Court, the Italian confessed he initially found it challenging to know the right way to speak to Princess Kate and her family. "In the beginning, I didn't know what to say," Sinner admitted during his post-match press conference. "It's difficult to understand, you know, how you can talk. I always try to talk very natural. "I asked the kids if they play tennis and asked them what kind of rackets they play with, these kind of things. It was amazing. I believe for us tennis players, it's so nice to have them watching us because it makes it even more special. "You see how much they care about tennis and the sport itself. It's very prestigious. I've been lucky to meet [the Princess of Wales] and the whole family, and it was a very nice moment." Sinner returned two signed tennis balls before Princess Charlotte offered up a third for him to sign. Princess Kate smiled and explained: "They've got one for their brother as well," while the young royals gratefully accepted the tennis memorabilia. Princess Kate, patron of the All England Lawn Tennis Club, expressed her admiration for the speed at which champions' names appeared on the winners' board. She had earlier had the privilege of presenting the trophy to an elated Sinner. Emulating their parents' etiquette, Princess Charlotte and Prince George shared formal handshakes with Sinner, with George even offering a warm "well done" to the tennis star. Royal fans were charmed by the clips circulating on Wimbledon's official platforms. One social media user said: "He signed a tennis ball for the future king of England. This has got to be the best day of this guy's life." A second added: "A delightful tradition at Wimbledon, where champions like Jannik Sinner gift signed tennis balls to young royals, capturing a moment of sportsmanship and cultural significance." The gesture for Prince Louis didn't go unnoticed, with a third fan posting: "The little princess gave him two balls to sign – one for her and the other for her little brother Louis." A fourth Royal fan noted the Prince of Wales' behaviour during the meeting: "I love how Prince William stands back, respecting his wife's position as Patron of the LTA." The Princess of Wales is accustomed to the thrill of Wimbledon finals, having awarded Alcaraz the trophy following his victory over Novak Djokovic last year. This year's final marked Sinner's fourth Grand Slam singles title, with two Australian Open wins and a US Open triumph already under his belt.


Scottish Sun
an hour ago
- Scottish Sun
Sinner and Swiatek awkwardly dance at Wimbledon Champions' Ball but VIPs ‘drunk enough' not to judge
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) LAURA ROBSON joked that Wimbledon VIPs were 'drunk enough' that they would not have minded the awkward 1am dance between the new singles champions. It has been a long-held tradition that the two individual Championship conquerors at the prestigious grass-court tournament share the stage at the Champions' Ball and have a little boogie. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 6 Wimbledon champions Jannik Sinner and Iga Swiatek shared an awkward dance Credit: Instagram @U_Penjanju 6 The world No1 gave Swiatek a spin Credit: Instagram @U_Penjanju 6 The dance lasted just 20 seconds Credit: Instagram @U_Penjanju 6 The pair will each collect £3million in prize money Credit: Getty 6 Swiatek dazzled in a long dress at The OWO – Raffles London hotel 6 Sinner beat Carlos Alcaraz 4-6 6-4 6-4 6-4 The act disappeared during the Covid years but has since returned, albeit it is begrudgingly done by the multi-millionaire winners – and they are usually not very good at it either. They might have decent footwork on the Centre Court turf but not when it comes to dancing. Jannik Sinner, who beat Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz 4-6 6-4 6-4 6-4 in the men's final on Sunday, was interviewed on stage by Robson, 31, in a black suit and tie. Yet before the Italian world No.1 could return to his table, Robson – the 2008 Wimbledon junior girls' singles champion – called up Poland's six-time Grand Slam champion. READ MORE IN WIMBLEDON SEAL OF APPROVAL Sinner hugs Brit music legend before his own MUM after winning Wimbledon Iga Swiatek, 24, had destroyed American Amanda Anisimova 6-0 6-0 in the women's final on Saturday – the first whitewash at that stage of the competition for 114 years – and she had stayed in London until Monday. Swiatek, wearing a long silver gown and pearls, happily came up to the stage for the ceremonial dance. The room contained All England Club top brass and committee members as well as respected BBC broadcaster Annabel Croft, who finished fourth in the 2023 edition of Strictly Come Dancing. Robson said: 'Iga, if you would like to come on back up. You (Jannik) led me right into it. CASINO SPECIAL - BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITS 'Now, no matter what you do, we are going to give it a ten out of ten. 'If Annabel is here with the Strictly cards, it's a ten out of a ten.' Adorable moment Princess Kate asks Wimbledon winner to sign tennis ball for Prince Louis after he missed the final The pair engaged in a 20-second dance, albeit at a slow pace and with one twirl, to the soundtrack of 'Feel It Still' by Portugal. The Man. And as befits two introverted characters, who are not comfortable in the media spotlight, it was not exactly a Rock 'n' Roll routine. Nonetheless, they received a warm reception from the audience at The OWO – Raffles London hotel – in Whitehall. Robson said: 'Fantastic. Look at the moves. A round of applause for both. We will let you both go. 'We said 10 out of 10, I think everyone in this room is drunk enough that it doesn't even matter. 'So, it's all good. Enjoy your champagne, guys. Enjoy the rest of the night. Congratulations.' Sinner and Swiatek individually earned a record £3million for winning seven matches over the course of two weeks. Yet their wins were mired in controversy given that the pair – Sinner (three months) and Swiatek (one month) – had served anti-doping bans since the 2024 Wimbledon Championships. Neither player had been accused of intentionally cheating or wrongdoing but the infringements that led to their suspension have been the subject of much discussion in the sport and beyond. Sinner twice tested positive for prohibited substance clostebol, an anabolic steroid, in March 2024 – he blamed it on a physio's bare-handed massage – but was cleared of fault or negligence by an independent tribunal. Between February 9 and May 4, he was suspended from the ATP Tour after an out-of-court agreement with world drug busters. Swiatek, meanwhile, tested positive for prohibited substance Trimetazidine (TMZ) in an out-of-competition anti-doping test. She accepted a one-month suspension that was served in the off-season last year. It was a result of taking contaminated melatonin tablets from Poland, which she had been using for jet lag and sleep issues.