"That doesn't mean I'll win the tournament," Sabalenka remains cautious after her victory against Raducanu at Wimbledon
Aryna Sabalenka will indeed compete in the Wimbledon round of 16. The world No. 1 defeated Emma Raducanu in straight sets but had to work hard to secure the win (7-6, 6-4).
After a first set lasting 1 hour and 15 minutes, where she saved a set point, the Belarusian found herself trailing 4-1 in the second set before ultimately winning the last five games. Before facing her former doubles partner Elise Mertens for a spot in the quarterfinals, Sabalenka reflected on her victory against the British player.
"I’m very happy with the win—it was a huge battle. Emma (Raducanu) really pushed me to my limits. You have to admit she played unbelievably well.
With the crowd, it felt like I was playing an American in the United States—it was crazy. Honestly, I’m grateful the crowd was so respectful during the points.
Even though they were loud throughout the match, I was able to focus on what I needed to do, and that helped me stay in the second set and fight for every point.
Thanks to all the experience I’ve gained over the past few years, including the final I lost at Roland-Garros, I was able to handle the end of the match better. Because I think earlier in my career, a few years ago, I would have gotten frustrated on court and probably lost the first set 7-5.
Over the years, I’ve realized that winning a match like this doesn’t necessarily mean much—it doesn’t mean I’ll win the tournament. It just gives me a lot of energy and good feelings about playing under pressure. Today was a big battle, and I was able to fight through it and win," Sabalenka told Punto De Break.
