Taylor Fritz of the U.S. celebrates winning the men's singles quarter final match against Karen Khachanov of Russia at the Wimbledon Tennis Championships in London, Tuesday, July 8, 2025.(AP Photo/Kin Cheung)
Taylor Fritz of the U.S. gets medical assistance during the men's singles quarter final match against Karen Khachanov of Russia at the Wimbledon Tennis Championships in London, Tuesday, July 8, 2025.(AP Photo/Kin Cheung)
Karen Khachanov of Russia watches the ball during the men's singles quarter final match against Taylor Fritz of the U.S. at the Wimbledon Tennis Championships in London, Tuesday, July 8, 2025.(AP Photo/Kin Cheung)
Taylor Fritz of the U.S. plays a return to Karen Khachanov of Russia during the men's singles quarter final match at the Wimbledon Tennis Championships in London, Tuesday, July 8, 2025.(AP Photo/Kin Cheung)
Taylor Fritz of the U.S. reacts during the men's singles quarter final match against Karen Khachanov of Russia at the Wimbledon Tennis Championships in London, Tuesday, July 8, 2025.(AP Photo/Kin Cheung)
Aryana Sabalenka of Belarus reacts after losing a point against Laura Siegemund of Germany during a quarterfinal women's singles match at the Wimbledon Tennis Championships in London, Tuesday, July 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)
Aryana Sabalenka of Belarus celebrates after beating Laura Siegemund of Germany to win a quarterfinal women's singles match at the Wimbledon Tennis Championships in London, Tuesday, July 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)
Laura Siegemund of Germany reacts as she plays Aryana Sabalenka of Belarus during a quarterfinal women's singles match at the Wimbledon Tennis Championships in London, Tuesday, July 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)
Amanda Anisimova of the U.S. celebrates winning the women's singles quarter finals match against Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova of Russia at the Wimbledon Tennis Championships in London, Tuesday, July 8, 2025.(AP Photo/Kin Cheung)
Amanda Anisimova of the U.S. celebrates with her nephew Jackson winning the women's singles quarter finals match against Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova of Russia at the Wimbledon Tennis Championships in London, Tuesday, July 8, 2025.(AP Photo/Kin Cheung)
Spain's Carlos Alcaraz serves to Britain's Cameron Norrie during a quarterfinal men's singles match at the Wimbledon Tennis Championships in London, Tuesday, July 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Joanna Chan)
Taylor Fritz of the U.S. celebrates winning the men's singles quarter final match against Karen Khachanov of Russia at the Wimbledon Tennis Championships in London, Tuesday, July 8, 2025.(AP Photo/Kin Cheung)
Taylor Fritz of the U.S. celebrates winning the men's singles quarter final match against Karen Khachanov of Russia at the Wimbledon Tennis Championships in London, Tuesday, July 8, 2025.(AP Photo/Kin Cheung)
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Taylor Fritz of the U.S. gets medical assistance during the men's singles quarter final match against Karen Khachanov of Russia at the Wimbledon Tennis Championships in London, Tuesday, July 8, 2025.(AP Photo/Kin Cheung)
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Karen Khachanov of Russia watches the ball during the men's singles quarter final match against Taylor Fritz of the U.S. at the Wimbledon Tennis Championships in London, Tuesday, July 8, 2025.(AP Photo/Kin Cheung)
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Taylor Fritz of the U.S. plays a return to Karen Khachanov of Russia during the men's singles quarter final match at the Wimbledon Tennis Championships in London, Tuesday, July 8, 2025.(AP Photo/Kin Cheung)
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Taylor Fritz of the U.S. reacts during the men's singles quarter final match against Karen Khachanov of Russia at the Wimbledon Tennis Championships in London, Tuesday, July 8, 2025.(AP Photo/Kin Cheung)
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Aryana Sabalenka of Belarus reacts after losing a point against Laura Siegemund of Germany during a quarterfinal women's singles match at the Wimbledon Tennis Championships in London, Tuesday, July 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)
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Aryana Sabalenka of Belarus celebrates after beating Laura Siegemund of Germany to win a quarterfinal women's singles match at the Wimbledon Tennis Championships in London, Tuesday, July 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)
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Laura Siegemund of Germany reacts as she plays Aryana Sabalenka of Belarus during a quarterfinal women's singles match at the Wimbledon Tennis Championships in London, Tuesday, July 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)
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Amanda Anisimova of the U.S. celebrates winning the women's singles quarter finals match against Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova of Russia at the Wimbledon Tennis Championships in London, Tuesday, July 8, 2025.(AP Photo/Kin Cheung)
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Amanda Anisimova of the U.S. celebrates with her nephew Jackson winning the women's singles quarter finals match against Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova of Russia at the Wimbledon Tennis Championships in London, Tuesday, July 8, 2025.(AP Photo/Kin Cheung)
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Spain's Carlos Alcaraz serves to Britain's Cameron Norrie during a quarterfinal men's singles match at the Wimbledon Tennis Championships in London, Tuesday, July 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Joanna Chan)
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Taylor Fritz of the U.S. celebrates winning the men's singles quarter final match against Karen Khachanov of Russia at the Wimbledon Tennis Championships in London, Tuesday, July 8, 2025.(AP Photo/Kin Cheung)
LONDON (AP) — Aryna Sabalenka was having a hard time dealing with her Wimbledon quarterfinal opponent's unusual game style. The mistakes were mounting Tuesday. The stress was rising. The deficit was troubling.
As things went awry, Sabalenka would look at her box with a quizzical expression and raise her hands. After missing one forehand off a short ball, she knelt on the grass near the net, the very picture of exasperation. A month after her loss to Coco Gauff in the French Open final, Sabalenka knew she needed to keep her emotions in check and straighten out her strokes.
Did just that, right on time. Sabalenka trailed by a set, then twice was down a break in the third, before grabbing the last three games to return to the semifinals at the All England Club by overcoming 104th-ranked 4-6, 6-2, 6-4 at Centre Court.
“She pushed me so much,” said Sabalenka, No. 1 since last October. “After the first set, I was just looking at my box, thinking, ‘Guys, I mean, book the tickets. I think we’re about to leave this beautiful city, country, place.’”
Wimbledon is the only Grand Slam tournament where Sabalenka never has been to a title match. She can change that this week if she beats No. 13 of the United States on Thursday. Anisimova reached her first major semifinal since the 2019 French Open, when she was just 17, by getting past 6-1, 7-6 (9).
The first men's semifinal was established Tuesday, too: No. 2 , the two-time defending champion, against No. 5 .
Sabalenka won the Australian Open twice and the U.S. Open once, and was the runner-up at this year’s Australian Open ( ) and French Open ( ).
The 27-year-old Belarusian lost in the semifinals at Wimbledon in 2021 and 2023.
Sabalenka hadn’t dropped a set during this year’s trip to the grass-court major until Tuesday — but she also hadn’t faced an opponent quite like the 37-year-old Siegemund. The German, who eliminated No. 6 Keys last week, was the oldest and by far the lowest-ranked of any woman in the quarterfinals, as well as the one with the fewest career titles (two).
She arrived at Wimbledon with a career record there of 2-5 and with a 4-9 mark on tour in 2025.
But her ability to change the depth, speed, angles and spins of her shots over and over can frustrate any opponent and dull the type of power that Sabalenka brings. And, make no mistake: Sabalenka was frustrated, especially in the final set.
“It's not like it's an annoying game. It’s a smart game. She’s really making everyone work against her,” Sabalenka said. “You know you have to work for every point. It doesn’t matter if you’re a big server, if you're a big hitter. You have to work. You have to run. And you have to earn the win.”
Trailing 4-3 in the last set, Sabalenka broke to open her match-ending run. In the next game, she delivered her lone two aces, at 103 mph and 116 mph.
When Sabalenka produced a volley winner to break again and end things after nearly three hours, she shut her eyes, spread her arms wide and let out a big scream.
What else happened in the Wimbledon quarterfinals on Tuesday?
Alcaraz was a 6-2, 6-3, 6-3 winner against unseeded Cam Norrie, the last British player in either singles bracket, and 2024 U.S. Open runner-up recovered from a mid-match lull to reach the semifinals at the All England Club for the first time with a 6-3, 6-4, 1-6, 7-6 (4) victory over Karen Khachanov.
Who will play in Wednesday's quarterfinals at the All England Club?
The last two women's quarterfinals are No. 7 vs. Belinda Bencic, and No. 8 Iga Swiatek vs. No. 19 Liudmila Samsonova. The men's matchups are No. 1 vs. No. 10 Ben Shelton, and 24-time major champion Novak Djokovic vs. No. 22 Flavio Cobolli.
