World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka crashed out of Wimbledon 2025 in a major upset semifinal loss to Amanda Anisimova.
The Belarusian was chasing down a shot when Anisimova celebrated the point before the ball had fully passed Sabalenka. The moment didn’t go unnoticed, and Sabalenka was visibly annoyed, even glancing at the chair umpire in disbelief.
When asked about the incident in her post-match press conference, Sabalenka didn’t hold back and said,
“I was just trying to chase the ball. She was already celebrating it. I was like, ‘I mean, that’s a bit12wtwf too early,” she said. “She kind of pissed me off, like saying, ‘That’s what she does all the time.“
The early celebration may have been frustrating at the moment. Still, according to Sabalenka, it also sparked a fighting spirit inside her, briefly giving her the fire she needed to turn the match around.
“I was grateful and thankful that she said that because it actually helped me to keep fighting,” Sabalenka admitted. “I was like, ‘OK, now I’m gonna show you the tennis.’ 😂 I came back because I got really angry in that moment.”
Sabalenka did indeed respond with intensity, managing to claw her way back into the second set and force a decider. However, despite the momentum shift, she ultimately fell short, with Anisimova sealing one of the biggest upsets of the tournament.
Reflecting on the incident, Aryna Sabalenka noted she may have let that fire fade too soon.
“Probably in the 3rd set I should’ve remembered, and probably it would’ve helped. But it is what it is,” she said with a smile.
The loss marks a tough end to what had been a strong campaign for Sabalenka, who entered the tournament as the favorite to win her first Wimbledon title.
Sabalenka, never one to shy away from expressing how she feels, gave fans a raw and relatable look at the mental battles that play out on court and how early celebration from the opponents can make or break their entire match.
