Sabalenka: "I would have lost this match if I hadn't learned the lesson at Roland Garros"

Andrés Tomás Rico | 8 Jul 2025 | 19.21

Sabalenka: "I would have lost this match if I hadn't learned the lesson at Roland Garros." Photo: Getty Images.

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Aryna Sabalenka had to face one of the most challenging tasks, both mentally and in terms of tennis, of the past few months. The world number one was pushed to the limit and was on the brink of being eliminated from Wimbledon by Laura Siegemund. The German had warned that her game would unsettle the Belarusian, and that's exactly what happened. However, the player from Minsk managed to keep her composure and not lose her cool too much to turn around a match that didn't look promising at all (2-6, 6-2, 6-4) and advance to her second semifinal at the London Grand Slam.

As expected, in the press conference following her victory, most of the questions were about Siegemund's tricky game. However, Sabalenka also talked about her mental strength to turn around the match, the lessons learned from the final in Paris against Coco Gauff, and the upcoming challenge against Amanda Anisimova.

Survival manual

"It was a real task. Honestly, I have no idea how I managed to contain myself and be so emotionally prepared and focused. I'm very proud of myself because it was a tough battle. Of course, I'm happy with the victory."

Commending Siegemund

"I think I was well prepared for her game, for her way of taking her time and all that. I was mentally prepared for that. But of course, internally, it was difficult for me because she played very smartly. At the beginning, I made a lot of mistakes. I felt rushed. So I'm very happy that after the first set, I was able to reset a bit, change my tactics, and secure the victory."

"I think that after the second set, halfway through the second, I started to feel my game better and to understand better what I needed to do to win. But regarding her game, I wasn't really upset. What could I do? It was a great match, a smart match. It was tough for my body to play against her, but I did it. I guess I was in great physical shape."

Similar to her final at Roland Garros against Coco Gauff

"That was definitely tough. I can't rate it right now, to be honest, but it was very, very tough. Honestly, you have to win the match mentally, be ready to fight for every point. There were no easy points. I mean, I don't know, I can't compare right now. I have to see both matches, but I felt that she was maybe trying not the same style of play as Coco against me in Roland Garros because today was windy too. I think there was a certain similarity in the game. I'm very proud of handling it very well and not repeating the same mistake I made in the French Open."

Learning from the tough defeat in Paris

"I think it's very possible that I would have lost this match if I hadn't learned the lesson in the French Open. At some moments, I kept reminding myself, probably a bit crazy, that we are in the Wimbledon quarterfinals, that we can't give up, that we can't let emotions take over and lose another match. I reminded myself that it's my dream, why would I give up so easily, so I have to keep fighting. Basically, that's it. I kept repeating it to myself and was willing to win points, to make an effort, and to earn those tough points."

Dealing with Siegemund's slices

"I'm happy about how my game adapted to all her different slices, my ball touch improved, and I think it forced me to go to the net and play at the net. Not only did I approach the net and end up there, but I had to make extra shots at the net. Maybe I didn't win all the points, but I think I practiced and improved on this. So right now, I feel pretty comfortable going to the net. So yes, what would I like to improve? Still, my game with slices. I think today I made many unforced, unnecessary errors."

About her next opponent, Amanda Anisimova

"I think this surface suits her game very well. That's why she's playing so well so far. She's serving well. She's hitting very clean and strong shots. We just played in the French Open. I had to work very hard to get the victory. I think it's going to be very aggressive tennis. I expect fewer slices from her. But yes, it's going to be a completely different match from the one I played today. She's a tough player. We've had many tough battles. I've lost tough battles against her. I've won tough battles. I'm excited to face her."

From fear to determination

"I think I made a big mental mistake: I was afraid to go for the slices because I thought it would give her more time and then she would start her magic, hit drop shots, and I would have to run a lot from side to side. At first, I wasn't afraid, but I didn't want to give her time. Then I realized that I'm pretty good, that I have to go for it if necessary because sometimes it's hard to lift the ball just with the forehand. Sometimes you're forced to go for the slice. So yes, the moment I remembered that I could also do it was important. I think it helped me a lot."

More work than motivation

"I think saying 'I know how to do it' doesn't work because every time is a completely different story. Yes, you know you're capable of doing it, but that doesn't mean that just because you've done it once, you'll magically do it again. I think for me, it's better to remember that I have to work. I have to be focused, play with discipline, go for my shots, and earn the victory. But I think at certain moments, I don't remind myself that I've done it before, so I know how to do it. Yes, of course, I'm reminding myself that I'm strong enough to withstand any pressure. I'm just trying to focus on the game, on what I have to do at the exact moment," said Sabalenka, who, after the tough experience against Siegemund, breathes a sigh of relief seeing that she survived a very mental battle and is only two matches away from the Wimbledon title.

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Sabalenka: "Hubiera perdido este partido si no hubiera aprendido la lección en Roland Garros"

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