Aryna Sabalenka may have started her press conference after the 2025 Wimbledon semi-final saying that the reporters won’t see a repeat of what happened at the French Open this year, where she copped criticism for her comments on Coco Gauff after her defeat in the final. However, she did have some things to say about Amanda Anisimova’s conduct during the semi-final match on Centre Court, in which the American beat the Belarusian World No.1 6-4, 4-6, 6-4.
Anisimova had let out a shout before a point, which she won, was over in one exchange. “I was, like, I mean, That’s a bit too early.’ Then she kind of (angered me), saying that, oh, that’s what she does all the time,” Sabalenka told reporters in the press conference. “I was grateful that she actually said that,” she said, indicating that it helped bering some more fight out of her.
Another moment that irked Sabalenka was when Anisimova didn’t apologise after benefiting from the ball chipping the net and going over. She instead raised her hand in a celebratory manner. “I was like, You don’t want to say sorry?’ She just wanted, I guess, badly to win this match,” Sabalenka said. “If she doesn’t feel like saying sorry — she barely got that point and she didn’t feel like saying sorry for that tricky situation? — that’s on her.”
At the same time, Sabalenka also had a lot of good things to say about Anisimova as well. “I have to say, that she was more brave,” said Sabalenka. “Maybe when I was just trying to stay in the point, she was going for all. She was playing more aggressive.”
Don’t really know what’s the deal there, says Anisimova
Anisimova was also asked about the moment when she celebrated before the point was done. “I wasn’t celebrating. It was just a long grunt, I guess. I don’t really know what was the deal there, to be honest, because I didn’t feel like it was that interfering. But I tried to not do it again,” she said.
Anisimova is looking to become the first American to win at Wimbledon since Serena Williams in 2016. She will be facing former world no 1 Iga Swiatek, who won four trophies at Roland-Garros and one at the U.S. Open but hadn’t been past the quarterfinals at Wimbledon until now.
© IE Online Media Services Pvt Ltd
