World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka narrowly avoided a stunning upset at Wimbledon 2025, overcoming a tense quarterfinal match against Germany's Laura Siegemund. The three-time major champion had a heated moment during the match, smashing her racquet against the net in frustration. Sabalenka admitted that she nearly lost faith during the match against Siegemund. Ultimately, Sabalenka secured a 4-6, 6-2, 6-4 victory to advance to the semifinals.

Siegemund, ranked No. 104 in the world, presented a unique challenge to Sabalenka with her crafty playing style. The 37-year-old German used slices, drop shots, and approaches to disrupt Sabalenka's rhythm. Siegemund's strategy initially proved effective, as she won the first set 6-4. Sabalenka later admitted that she was "a little annoyed" by Siegemund's game, which forced her to work hard for every point.

After losing the first set, Sabalenka found herself trailing in the third, leading her to believe that her Wimbledon campaign was coming to an end. "Honestly, after the first set, I was just looking at my box thinking: 'Guys, book the tickets, I think we're about to leave this beautiful city and country,'" Sabalenka admitted.

Trailing 1-3 in the third set, Sabalenka's frustration boiled over after she missed a seemingly easy shot. She had an opportunity to hit a down-the-line winner but sent the ball wide, drawing gasps from the crowd. In response, Sabalenka smashed her racquet into the top of the net. The umpire had to calm the crowd after Sabalenka's outburst.

Despite her frustration, Sabalenka managed to regain her composure and fight back. She held her serve and broke Siegemund to level the score. The deciding set saw a total of 14 breaks of serve. Sabalenka ultimately won the match, but not before saving a match point. On her second match point, Sabalenka secured the win with a forehand smash at the net. The match lasted two hours and 54 minutes, making it the third-longest women's match at Wimbledon 2025.

Sabalenka acknowledged the difficulty of the match, stating, "That was a real task and honestly I need some time to cool down and to recover from this match. She pushed me so much". She also praised Siegemund's "smart game," which forced her to "work and run and earn the win".

With the victory, Sabalenka advances to her third Wimbledon semifinal. She will face No. 13 seed Amanda Anisimova for a place in the final. Sabalenka has reached the finals in five of her last six Grand Slam appearances and is aiming for her first Wimbledon title. She has also officially qualified for the 2025 WTA Finals in Riyadh.