Former Wimbledon champion claims Aryna Sabalenka played 'horrendous tennis' despite beating Laura Siegemund

Aryna Sabalenka was made to work hard for her place in the Wimbledon semi-finals, facing a tough test from the world number 104.

Twice a Wimbledon semi-finalist, in 2021 and 2023, Sabalenka was looking to qualify for her third semi-final with a convincing win over Germany’s Laura Siegemund.

However, what followed was far from convincing, as the 37-year-old veteran pushed Sabalenka to the brink of a Wimbledon exit.

Eventually, it was Sabalenka who prevailed, defeating Siegemund in three sets 4-6, 6-2, 6-4, to book her place in the last four.

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Giving his verdict on the match, a former Wimbledon champion was far from impressed by Sabalenka on Centre Court.

Pat Cash says Aryna Sabalenka played ‘horrendous tennis’ against Laura Siegemund

Speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live, 1987 Wimbledon champion Pat Cash shared his thoughts on Sabalenka’s quarterfinal performance.

“There was some absolutely horrendous tennis from [Aryna] Sabalenka, but she’s a great fighter,” he said.

“Full credit to [Laura] Siegemund as she walks off the court, she played a great match technically, and executed almost perfectly, it was the last two games, the forehand went, and she made some unforced errors.

“Sabalenka survives, she’s come through a couple of challenges this tournament already, and has got through it.

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“It hasn’t been pretty, but she might well relax after this round. This was always going to be a tricky one, but she survived.”

Sabalenka has been pushed to a 12th game in at least one set of all her matches at Wimbledon in 2025.

The Belarusian has yet to record a dominant victory at SW19, whereas many of the players remaining in the draw have.

Player Most dominant win Score Games dropped Amanda Anisimova (SF) 1R v Yulia Putintseva 6-0, 6-0 0 Belinda Bencic (QF) 1R v Alycia Parks 6-0, 6-3 3 Liudmila Samsonova (QF) 2R v Yuliia Starodoubtseva 6-2, 6-1 3 Mirra Andreeva (QF) 3R v Hailey Baptiste 6-1, 6-3 4 Iga Swiatek (QF) 3R v Danielle Collins 6-2, 6-3 5 Aryna Sabalenka (SF) 1R v Carson Branstine 6-1, 7-5 6 Most dominant wins of players remaining at Wimbledon

Sabalenka’s semi-final opponent, Amanda Anisimova, is the only player to have won a match 6-0, 6-0 at this year’s tournament, a result that the world number one won’t want to be on the receiving end of later this week.

The pair have played one another eight times previously, as Anisimova leads the head-to-head 5-3.

Annabel Croft thinks Aryna Sabalenka just played some of the worst tennis of her career

Agreeing with Cash, former British tennis star Annabel Croft was equally unimpressed with the level shown by Sabalenka against Siegemund.

“Oh my goodness, what a match. What an absolutely enthralling contest that was,” she said.

“It will be so interesting to hear what [Aryna] Sabalenka says, I reckon it’s one of the most uncomfortable, most painful matches that she’s ever had to play in her life.

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“In terms of emotion, what was on the line, what she wasn’t able to do, and how well [Laura] Siegemund played that match tactically to make her play some of the worst tennis that she’s put out there in her career.”

Sabalenka will need to be better if she is to win Wimbledon for the first time in 2025 and become a four-time major champion.

The 27-year-old is fiercely determined to emerge victorious at the All England Club after experiencing two heartbreaking Slam final defeats earlier this year.

Losing out to Madison Keys in the Australian Open final and Coco Gauff in the French Open final, Sabalenka missed out on two great chances to add to her major tally.

Only time will tell if Sabalenka can qualify for her third Grand Slam final of the year at Wimbledon.

Sabalenka will return to the court to take on Anisimova in the semifinals of Wimbledon on Thursday, July 10.

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