Wimbledon 2025: No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka fights off Elise Mertens in straight sets, advances to quarterfinals
Sabalenka has not yet lost a set in her 2025 Wimbledon run, but she was challenged by Mertens and Emma Radacanu in her past two matches.
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The world No. 1 initially looked as if she might overpower Mertens right off Centre Court, winning four of the first five games in the first set. But Mertens held serve against her former doubles partner and saved three break points on her way to tying the set at 4-4. Sabalenka then answered with a strong backhand winner to regain the advantage before firing a return to win the first set.
Yet much like Radacanu did against Sabalenka in their third-round match on Friday, Mertens continued to battle as it appeared that the match might be lost. The Belgian may not have had the crowd on her side as enthusiastically as the British Radacanu, but support for her from the spectators at Centre Court grew louder as she refused to go down easily.
Mertens fell behind 3-1 in the second set as Sabalenka dominated with her serve. But she finally broke Sabalenka before rallying to tie the set at 3-3, finally catching up to those rocket serves with quick backhands. However, just as Mertens appeared to gain some momentum, Sabalenka again asserted herself with her serve and went back on top 4-3.
Then it was Mertens' turn to gain control with her serve. She fired three consecutive aces to hold, saving two break points. Sabalenka took a moment, walking to the back of the court to compose herself. That apparently provided the reset she needed as she took a 5-4 lead.
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However, Mertens was able to hold serve to tie the set at 5-5 and forced a tiebreaker at 6-6, stirring the crowd to root for the women's favorite to play a third set.
Mertens went ahead 3-2 in the tiebreaker when Sabalenka double-faulted. But Sabalenka bounced back to break Mertens' serve and win the next two points for a 4-3 lead.
Yet instead of pressing the advantage, Sabalenka missed a simple volley that kept Mertens alive. That apparently awakened Sabalenka, who fired back volleys out of Mertens' reach to finally finish her off and win her third consecutive tiebreaker.
Following the match, Sabalenka returned to a recurring theme, teasing the crowd for frequently supporting her opponent.
'First of all, guys, it feels so good to feel all the support, you know," she said with a smile in her on-court interview. "I feel like today I got you on my side, right? Thank you guys for the support.'
Asked how she feels about moving closer to her first Wimbledon title, she took one last good-natured dig at the spectators that have often cheered against her at the All-England Tennis Club.
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"With your support, guys, I think everything is possible," she said.
With the victory, Sabalenka advances to her 11th Grand Slam quarterfinal. She will face unseeded Laura Siegemund, who moved to the next round by defeating Solana Sierra in straight sets 6-3, 6-2. The two will face each other for the first time on Tuesday.
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