Aryna Sabalenka Survives Wimbledon Scare Amid Record Upsets

LONDON – Aryna Sabalenka, the world’s top-ranked female tennis player, narrowly avoided an early exit at Wimbledon on Wednesday. Facing Marie Bouzkova in the second round, Sabalenka was just two points away from losing the opening set on three occasions. However, she rallied to secure a 7-6 (4), 6-4 victory, steering clear of the surprising upsets that have plagued this year’s tournament.

The first two days of Wimbledon saw a record-tying 23 seeded players — 10 women and 13 men — eliminated, matching the most at any Grand Slam event in the past 25 years. Among the casualties were four of the top 10 women’s seeds: No. 2 Coco Gauff, No. 3 Jessica Pegula, No. 5 Zheng Qinwen, and No. 9 Paula Badosa.

“Of course you’re going to know the overall picture. … I hope it’s no upsets anymore in this tournament,” Sabalenka remarked with a chuckle after her match. “If you know what I mean.”

Sabalenka’s Grand Slam Journey

Sabalenka, a three-time Grand Slam champion, has achieved all her titles on hard courts at the Australian Open and the U.S. Open. Despite her prowess, she has yet to advance beyond the semifinals on the grass courts of the All England Club. Last year, an injured shoulder forced her to miss Wimbledon, adding to the significance of her current campaign.

Her recent performance at the French Open, where she was the runner-up to Coco Gauff, drew attention not only for her play but also for post-match comments that sparked controversy. Both players addressed the issue through social media, putting the matter to rest.

Weather and Match Dynamics

On Wednesday, the sweltering heat of the initial days gave way to rain, delaying play on smaller courts by about two hours and causing temperatures to drop significantly. At Centre Court, Bouzkova, ranked 48th, took advantage of a Sabalenka double-fault to go ahead 6-5 in the first set. Serving for the set, Bouzkova found herself two points from victory multiple times, but Sabalenka’s resilience shone through.

Sabalenka’s decisive forehand volley and backhand winner during critical moments led to a tiebreaker, where she dominated to claim the first set. The second set saw Sabalenka break Bouzkova’s serve for a 3-2 lead, a turning point that sealed her victory. She compiled a 41-17 edge in winners, committing only 18 unforced errors in a match lasting just over 90 minutes.

Looking Ahead at Wimbledon

As the tournament progresses, Sabalenka is set to face either 2021 U.S. Open champion Emma Raducanu or 2023 Wimbledon champion Marketa Vondrousova. Meanwhile, other players such as Australian Open champion Madison Keys, who is seeded sixth, advanced to the third round after defeating Olga Danilovic 6-4, 6-2.

On Thursday, the All England Club will see seven-time Wimbledon champion Novak Djokovic lead the Centre Court schedule against Britain’s Dan Evans. Following him will be Iga Swiatek versus Caty McNally, and No. 1 Jannik Sinner against Aleksandar Vukic.

“That was a tough moment,” Sabalenka reflected. “Until that point, my return wasn’t great enough to break her serve. I’m really glad … everything clicked together and I was able to break her back. I kind of like felt a little bit better.”

This year’s Wimbledon continues to be unpredictable, with the early rounds setting the stage for what promises to be an exciting tournament. As Sabalenka and other top players advance, the focus will remain on who can withstand the pressure and emerge victorious amidst the surprises.

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