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.”
The win put Sabalenka in some elite company as she joined Brit Ann Jones and American Chris Evert as the only three women in history to win in their first six slam quarterfinals.
While that slice of history is nice, Sabalenka has visions of joining those two greats with another title … Wimbledon champion.
Sabalenka last made it this far in 2021 before being stunned by Czech Karolina Pliskova.
“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.”
Jabeur takes revenge on Rybakina
Sabalenka will take on Tunisia’s Ons Jabeur in the semifinals after she gained revenge for her defeat in last year’s final when she surged back from a set down to beat defending champion Kazakh Elena Rybakina 6-7(7/5), 6-4, 6-1 on Wednesday.
A year ago Jabeur looked on course to become the first Arabic female champion before fading to lose in three sets but the dream is still on in 2023 after the sixth seed mounted a spirited comeback having looked distraught after the first set tie-break went against her.
Jabeur upped her game after that, going for the big shots and gradually becoming the dominant force with a surge of five games in a row that secured the second set and gave her an advantage in the third which she pressed him with real authority.
Jabeur said she wished she had delivered that performance in 2022.
“I’m very happy with the performance,” Jabeur said.
“It’s not always easy playing her but I wish we can exchange this match for final last year.”
When she lost the first set in a tense tiebreak Jabeur said she let her coaches know their tactics may not have been working, as she went away from her usual array of slices and drop shots to opt for all out power.
“The first (set) should have gone my way. I honestly doubted a little bit. I kept yelling at my coach saying, ‘You told me to play like this and look what’s happening’.
But Jabeur despite her doubts stuck to the plan and elevated her game to break Rybakina to take the second set before playing a final set of outright dominance and booking in a showdown with Sabalenka.
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