Alina Sabalenka Reflects on Tense Wimbledon Semi-Final

Alina Sabalenka recently shared her thoughts after a heated semi-final match against Amanda Anisimova at Wimbledon, where she experienced a challenging defeat.

In her post-match press conference, when asked about a specific moment in the decisive third set, Sabalenka recalled a forehand from Anisimova that hit the top of the net. She had felt the need to comment, asking Anisimova, “Don’t you want to say sorry?” It was a nerve-racking moment for her.

“I was just looking at her, and I could tell she wasn’t really engaging with me, but I felt like saying something like, ‘Don’t you want to say sorry?'” Sabalenka reflected after her loss, which ended with scores of 4-6, 6-4, 4-6.

It’s interesting how sometimes players might apologize if luck plays a role in the dynamics of a point. But Anisimova’s lack of acknowledgment seemed to fire Sabalenka up. She also noted her annoyance at what she perceived as Anisimova’s premature celebration.

The Belarusian star mentioned, “I was just trying to chase after the ball, and there she was, celebrating before the point was actually done. I thought it was a bit too soon. It really irritates me; it feels like something she does often.”

Despite her frustration, Sabalenka admitted that the moment ultimately motivated her. “You know, as mad as I was, I think it actually pushed me to keep fighting. It’s funny how that works.”

After this match, Anisimova is set to face Poland’s Iga Swiatek in the women’s singles final on Saturday. Following her victory, Anisimova described the experience as surreal, admitting, “Honestly, this feels a bit unreal. I was definitely struggling to keep it together out there. I’m not sure how I managed to pull it off.”

Anisimova, who is the daughter of a Russian immigrant, took a break from tennis last year due to mental health challenges and fell to a ranking of 189. She made a strong comeback this summer, reaching the fourth round at the French Open, where she faced Sabalenka.

Sabalenka, a three-time Grand Slam champion, had recently lost to Coco Gauff in the Roland Garros final before this latest match.