Aryna Sabalenka knows she’s in for a battle. Despite her strong run at Wimbledon, the Belarusian star isn’t taking anything for granted as she prepares for the semifinal. She’s already studying Amanda Anisimova’s game, recognizing the American’s dangerous form and admitting this match will test everything she’s got.
How Will Amanda Anisimova’s Grass Court Game Challenge Aryna Sabalenka?
Sabalenka had to dig deep in her quarterfinal victory over Laura Siegemund. The 37-year-old German player put up a fierce fight, breaking Sabalenka’s serve twice in the final set. However, Sabalenka kept her composure, battled back both times, and won the match 4-6, 6-2, 6-4.
With this victory, Sabalenka has a great chance to reach the final on Saturday. She has already played in the last three Grand Slam finals, and the recent win keeps her hopes alive for another major appearance.
Looking ahead to her upcoming challenge against Anisimova, the Belarusian player opened up about her analysis of the matchup. According to her, the semifinal showdown will surely be tougher than her recent quarterfinal battle.
“I definitely think that this surface suits her game really well. That’s why she’s playing so well so far. So, she’s serving well. She’s hitting quite clean and heavy shots, and we just played recently at the French Open, and I had to work really hard to get the win. So it’s going to be very aggressive tennis,” she said in her quarter-final press conference.
The contrast between opponents will be stark. “I think, less slices from her. But yeah, it’s going to be completely different game from what I had to play against today. Yeah, she’s a challenging player and we had a lot of tough battles. I lost a lot of tough battles against her. I won tough ones and I’m excited face if it’s going to be her.”
The history between these two players adds another layer of intrigue. Anisimova currently leads the head-to-head against Sabalenka, having won five of the total eight encounters in the past. However, the outcome still remains unpredictable as the upcoming showdown would mark their first ever meeting on grass.
What Did Sabalenka Tell Herself During Her Quarterfinal Struggle?
Before looking forward to the semifinal, Sabalenka shared her experience from the quarterfinal against Siegemund. The Belarusian player admitted to taking a strong hit to her confidence when the odds started to turn against her during the match.
Her internal dialogue revealed the mental battle she faced on court. “After the first set I was looking at my box and thinking, ‘book the tickets, we are about to leave’. I had to make sure I didn’t show I was annoyed by her, even if I was slightly, I didn’t want to give her that energy,” she said.
This recent showdown marked Sabalenka’s second win over the German WTA pro in a total of two matches played against each other. She now looks forward to chasing her fourth major title at Wimbledon.
