As Aryna Sabalenka secured a solid victory against the formidable Jelena Ostapenko, she showcased an evolving game. With a score of 6-4, 2-1 and 30-0 in her favor, Sabalenka made a bold choice to rush the net following a powerful serve.
She envisioned a successful serve-and-volley scenario reminiscent of Tim Henman’s style, but the outcome was unexpected. Misjudging Ostapenko’s high return, Sabalenka botched her volley, allowing Ostapenko to clinch the point with an impressive forehand winner.
Despite the mishap, the world No. 1 laughed it off, swiftly moving past the moment. This incident, however, stood out as a telling glimpse into her match during the 6-4, 6-4 triumph over Ostapenko.
Sabalenka has committed herself to refining her serve-and-volley skills during practice at the secluded Aorangi Park courts, demonstrating her desire for continual improvement. Initially, she was known for her brute force on the court, but she has since learned to blend her raw power with topspin, variety, enhanced volleys, and stronger defensive play. Her game has reached unprecedented completeness, marking her as a player in her prime. This evolution has led her to two consecutive years of being ranked as the best player globally.
However, her top position is under threat this week. In the upcoming days, Sabalenka risks losing her No. 1 ranking for the first time since the previous year. If Elena Rybakina secures her second Wimbledon title, she will take over the top spot from the Belarusian.
In March, Sabalenka’s triumph at Indian Wells and Miami made her the fifth woman to achieve the Sunshine Double, creating an apparent divide between her and her competitors. She began the season with an impressive record, winning 23 out of 24 matches, with her only loss coming in a tightly contested final against Rybakina at the Australian Open.
Since her Miami victory, however, Sabalenka has not reached another final, managing just one semi-final appearance across four tournaments. In her last two outings, she made history as the first world No. 1 to lose 6-0 in the third set in consecutive matches, with a particularly devastating defeat against Diana Shnaider in the Roland Garros quarter-finals. Despite claiming to have learned valuable lessons from her past experiences with a psychologist, she once again sought their guidance.
As she embarks on her latest Wimbledon journey—having reached the semi-finals here three times but never advancing further—Sabalenka appears focused. Ostapenko, a formidable opponent on her best days, demonstrated her capabilities last year by defeating Sabalenka in the Stuttgart Open final. The Latvian is relentless, aiming to strike every ball with precision, ever in pursuit of the lines. Her past victory at the 2017 French Open remains a testament to her ability to overcome any rival.
Throughout the match, Sabalenka largely outplayed Ostapenko, displaying exceptional sharpness on her initial shots. Pairing her powerful serves with consistent depth and pace on her returns, she built a 6-4, 5-1 lead. Although Ostapenko fought back, putting pressure on Sabalenka to close the match on her serve at 5-4, the top seed responded under pressure with a superb service game, sealing a remarkable victory and gaining momentum.
“She’s really dangerous and in the last match I played against her, I couldn’t do anything,” Sabalenka reflected. “She just smashed me off the court. I’m really happy that I was able to get this win, especially in straight setsThe plan is to get better every day and to bring a little bit better level every time I’m competing on this beautiful grass.”
As Ostapenko and Sabalenka took to Centre Court, it was clear that the winner of this clash of grand slam champions would face another formidable opponent. Earlier on No. 1 Court, Naomi Osaka showcased her exceptional form, advancing to the fourth round of Wimbledon for the first time in her career with a convincing 6-1, 6-3 victory over Daria Kasatkina.
While Osaka’s wardrobe choices have sparked discussions in the sporting world, her performance remains the highlight. Following a retirement in the Bad Homburg final due to a foot injury while trailing against Karolina Muchova, she has bounced back, winning seven matches in the past two weeks without dropping a set. Osaka enters the fourth round eager for another significant victory.
