Aryna Sabalenka admitted that she has a ‘hate relationship’ with Wimbledon after to failing to win her third semi-final on Centre Court on Thursday afternoon.
The world No1 had been looking to compete in her third major final of the season after defeats at the Australian Open and Roland-Garros, but was thwarted by the No13 seed Amanda Anisimova in three knife’s-edge sets.
Last year saw the 27-year-old forced to withdraw on the eve of the tournament after suffering a shoulder injury, with Sabalenka then vowing to be back ‘stronger than ever’.
Instead, Sabalenka’s heartbreak on grass continued, with the Belarusian having previously lost to Karolina Pliskova in the 2021 semi-final, and Ons Jabeur at the same stage two years later.
When asked about whether her experience against the American star in the 6-4, 4-6, 6-4 defeat would make help make her a better Wimbledon champion in the future, Sabalenka was honest about the immediate difficulties she is facing in the aftermath of the loss.
‘It’s tough, like you said, to think about that, but I really hope so,’ Sabalenka said. ‘I lost three semis, three tough ones.
Aryna Sabalenka admitted that she has a choppy ongoing relationship with Wimbledon
The world No1 was defeated across three tight sets by American star Amanda Anisimova
In a challenging press conference after the match, Sabalenka tried to balance her good humour with bitter disappointment
‘Then I was banned from playing (due to her nationality, in 2022). Then I was injured. So I have really more of a hate relationship right now with Wimbledon, but I really hope that one day I will, yeah, turn it around and have love relationship.
‘Of course, if one day I’m going to be able to win it, of course, I’m going to look back on all of these tough losses and think that I still did it.
‘Yeah, now it’s tough, but I never give up, and I’m going to come back stronger, for sure.’
Sabalenka also revealed that she had almost let her tempter get the better of her and smashed up her racquets on-court.
On-court in the final stages of the match, Sabalenka had crashed her racquet into her head briefly, but avoided a major fine by refusing to take her anger out on the grass.
‘We all can lose control over our emotions,’ Sabalenka continued. ‘It’s absolutely normal.
‘Every time when I was really that close in that match today to completely lose it and start… I don’t know… yelling, screaming, smashing the racquets, I keep reminding myself that’s not an option, and it’s not going to help me to stay in the match and to fight for my dream.
‘Even right now I took a bit more time before doing my media just so I can be Aryna, not that crazy person that been on that media day at Roland-Garros.’
The 27-year-old has previously been defeated in three semi-finals at the SW19 tournament
But Sabalenka was keen the manage her sadness in light of the backlash she received after losing to Coco Gauff in Paris
Sabalenka’s reference to the French Open final came after the US Open champion found herself at the centre of a media firestorm after she was accused of failing to acknowledge her opponent Coco Gauff’s achievements in winning in Paris.
The star later apologised both publicly and privately to Gauff, with the pair filming a TikTok dance together on Centre Court after the olive branch had been extended.
But as much as Sabalenka was able to keep her emotions in check to a degree, she could not fully extinguish her trademark competitive fire.
Sabalenka had declared that she was ‘p****d off’ by Anisimova for two of her celebrations on court during the tight match.
The 23-year-old first appeared to celebrate a winner before the ball had bounced twice, as is custom, with Sabalenka questioning the umpire as to whether the noise was a ‘hinderance’.
Anisimova reportedly implied that was something that Sabalenka had done in the past, adding to the charged atmosphere.
‘I was just trying to chase the ball and, yeah, she was already celebrating it,’ said Sabalenka. ‘I was, like, I mean, that’s a bit too early. Then she kind of p****d me off saying that, “oh, that’s what she does all the time.”
‘I was grateful she actually said that because it actually helped me to keep fighting. I’m like, “okay, now I’m going to show you the tennis.” So I came back because I got really angry in that moment.
The point which won Anisimova her fifth game of the final set occurred after the ball hit the top of the net and bounced over – which usually results in the player apologising to their opponent
But Anisimova (top) celebrated after winning the point, leaving Sabalenka (bottom) unamused
‘So probably in the third set I should have remembered and it probably will help!’
Another celebration came in the closing stages of the match, when Anisimova’s ball clipped the net cord and fell fortuitously over the other side – and rather than offering a brief, and likely insincere, apology, Anisimova clenched her fist to cheer the point won.
A disgusted Sabalenka turned to her box before glaring at Anisimova and asking her why she didn’t apologise.
‘I just looked at her and, for sure, she didn’t hear me, I was like “You don’t want to say sorry?”,’ said Sabalenka. ‘She just wanted, I guess, badly to win this match.
‘It’s on her. If she doesn’t feel like saying sorry, like she barely got that point and she didn’t feel like saying sorry for that tricky situation, that’s on her.’
But after match point, the hostilities quickly ebbed away, with the pair hugging at the net and Anisimova paying tribute to her opponent in her own press conference.
Anisimova and Sabalenka put the match behind them to share a hug at the net at its end
Anisimova will now prepare for her first-ever Grand Slam final against Poland’s Iga Swiatek
‘This doesn’t feel real right now,’ said Anisimova. ‘Aryna is such a tough competitor and I was absolutely dying out there. I don’t know how I pulled it off, shes’s an incredible competitor and an inspiration to me and to so many people.
‘We have had so many tough battles and to come out on top and reach the final at Wimbledon is incredibly special.’
Anisimova will meet Iga Swiatek in Saturday’s final in their first meeting on the professional tour.
The duo previously met as juniors in a Fed Cup (now known as the Junior Billie Jean King Cup) match-up between USA and Poland, with Swiatek taking the 2016 match.
