Amanda Anisimova’s win over World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka, took 2 hours and 37 minutes, in the semifinals of the ongoing Wimbledon championships, had several fiery moments. After the match, Sabalenka disclosed to the media what she told her opponent during a particularly fiery moment.
Aryna Sabalenka Has Revealed What She Told Amanda Anisimova in Tense Wimbledon Moment
At one point in the match, Anisimova seemed to celebrate a point where the ball hit the net and dropped over. This appeared to annoy the World No. 1, who reacted angrily with a response.
Revealing what she had said to Anisimova, Sabalenka said, “I just looked at her, and I just, I mean, for sure she did not hear me, but I was like, ‘Don’t you wanna say sorry?’ But, I guess she just wanted badly to win this match.”
Generally, if a let happens, players apologize because luck plays a part in which side of the court the ball lands on.
At what point does the tennis community call out Sabalenka for her behavior? Here she is bullying Anisimova for not saying sorry for a net cord point. Let’s not forget her rudeness to Coco Gauff. #wimbledon #tennis pic.twitter.com/IPvlFXou2O
— Tim Tyrrell (@TimTyrrellNY) July 10, 2025
“She (Anisimova) was the better player,” Sabalenka conceded in the press conference. “She was more brave today, and maybe when I was just trying to stay in the point, she was playing more aggressive.”
Asked to pinpoint what aspects of her game did not click during the semifinal match, Sabalenka replied, “[My] returning game did not work well.”
MORE: Aryna Sabalenka Reveals 1 Amanda Anisimova Moment That Impacted Her in Wimbledon Semifinal Loss
Aryna Sabalenka Also Took Offense at Amanda Anisimova over Premature Celebration
At one point during the match, Anisimova angered Sabalenka by celebrating a point prematurely in the second set. This moment, where Anisimova celebrated before the ball was out of play, was brought up to Sabalenka in her post-match press conference.
When asked by a reporter if she considered it a “hindrance issue,” Sabalenka admitted she felt Anisimova’s celebration was “a bit too early.” She said, “She kind of p**sed me off, like saying, ‘That’s what she does all the time.’”
Sabalenka explained that getting angry in that moment spurred her on to raise her level, allowing her to clinch the second set and force a decider.
Sabalenka lamented that she should have remembered that feeling in the third set, saying, “Probably in the 3rd set I should’ve remembered and probably it would’ve helped. But it is what it is.”
Come Saturday, Anisimova will face 5-time Grand Slam winner Iga Swiatek for her first major title.
