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Eleven minutes of the most brutal power-hitting you will ever see has sent Aryna Sabalenka back into the final four at Wimbledon.
The Belarusian world number two — who won the Australian Open in January — delivered some unplayable tennis to leave America’s Madison Keys in disbelief after a 6-2, 6-4 defeat.
Keys, who had won nine straight matches coming in, looked in control of the second set when she went up a break midway through the set on Court 1 to lead 4-2, 40-0 — before Sabalenka took 12 points in a row to completely shift the match.
That 12-point streak took her to 0-40 and triple break point on the Keys serve before Keys saved the first with an ace, but a forehand volley error gave Sabalenka the break.
Sabalenka needed two match points to close out a finish to the match she described as “incredible”, as she won 18 of the final 21 points in just 11 minutes.
“I can’t wait to play my second semifinals at Wimbledon”, Sabalenka said.
“That game at 2-4, 0-40, it was just incredible.”
Sabalenka last made it this far in 2021 before being stunned by Czech Karolina Pliskova.
She says she is now a different player, as she chases the one slam that means the most to her.
“I think since that semifinal I changed a lot,” Sabalenka said.
“I did a lot of work, and I think I am a different player now.
“Since I was little girl I have been dreaming of a Wimbledon title. It’s just different, it’s more special.”
More to come.
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