'super Happy' Sabalenka Sets Up Siegemund Quarter-final

World number 1 Aryna Sabalenka overcame a battling Elise Mertens to scope nan quarter-finals and enactment connected people for a first Wimbledon title.

The 27-year-old, who reached nan semi-finals successful 2021 and 2023, won 6-4 7-6 (7-4) and will adjacent look world number 104 Laura Siegemund for a spot successful nan past four.

This has been a tourney successful which galore seeds person tumbled and Sabalenka was nan only apical six seed remaining successful nan women's draw.

It hasn't been plain sailing for Sabalenka arsenic she came done a reliable lucifer against British number 1 Emma Raducanu to group up her gathering pinch Mertens.

This again was possibly tougher than expected, peculiarly arsenic Sabalenka had beaten 24th seed Mertens 9 times successful a statement anterior to gathering astatine Wimbledon.

"I americium ace happy pinch nan performance. It was a battle. I was happy to get this win," said Sabalenka.

"She is simply a awesome subordinate and awesome person. I cognize really smart she is and I knew she would conflict until nan very end. She really challenged maine today."

It did initially look for illustration being a comfortable triumph for Sabalenka arsenic she sewage an early break connected her measurement to racing into a 4-1 lead, but Mertens sewage a break backmost arsenic she started to move her force astir nan tribunal more.

Sabalenka collapsed Mertens again to return nan opening group - but nan Belgian continued to origin problems pinch her fierce tennis.

She was rewarded for her brave play erstwhile she sewage her first break of nan lucifer early successful nan 2nd set, taking advantage arsenic Sabalenka struggled to get her first service moving earlier thumping down a backhand winner, and past holding to lead 3-1.

Sabalenka collapsed backmost 2 games later but Mertens was undeterred, nan 2 going toe-to-toe each nan measurement to a tie-break.

But location Sabalenka showed her quality, fighting backmost from 2-0 down to triumph and progress.

"Everything is possible," Sabalenka said of winning Wimbledon.

"I americium conscionable trying to springiness my champion and really dream for nan best."

At 37, Siegemund - Sabalenka's adjacent force - is nan oldest female near successful nan Wimbledon singles draw.

The seasoned German ended fortunate loser Solana Sierra's hugely awesome tally astatine nan tournament.

Sierra had mislaid successful qualifying but was invited into nan main tie aft a withdrawal, only uncovering retired 15 minutes earlier her first-round match.

The 21-year-old from Argentina was looking to go nan first fortunate loser to make nan quarter-finals of a Grand Slam but her travel was ended successful information 4 arsenic Siegemund won 6-3 6-2.