Aryna Sabalenka declared she was ‘p****d off’ with Amanda Anisimova during her Wimbledon semi-final defeat for the way her opponent celebrated two points.
American Anisimova celebrated a winner in the second set before the ball had gone past Sabalenka and then refused to apologise after winning a crucial point in the decider that clipped the net before dropping out of the world No1’s reach on her way to reaching the final with a 6-4, 4-6, 6-4 victory.
Anisimova held game point to go 5-2 up in the deciding set when her forehand down the line clipped the top of the net and left Sabalenka unable to return it.
Players usually hold a hand up in apology when that happens, but American Anisimova instead thrust her arm into the air in celebration.
A disgusted Sabalenka turned to her box before glaring at Anisimova and asking her why she didn’t apologise.
‘I just looked at her and, for sure, she didn’t hear me, I was like ‘You don’t want to say sorry?’,’ said Sabalenka after her defeat. ‘She just wanted, I guess, badly to win this match.
Aryna Sabalenka fired a disgusted five-word message at Amanda Anisimova after the American celebrated a crucial point in the final set of their semi-final at Wimbledon
The point which won Anisimova her fifth game of the final set occurred after the ball hit the top of the net and bounced over – which usually results in the player apologising to their opponent
But Anisimova, top, celebrated after winning the point, leaving Sabalenka, bottom, unamused
‘It’s on her. If she doesn’t feel like saying sorry, like she barely got that point and she didn’t feel like saying sorry for that tricky situation, that’s on her.’
It was a point earlier in the match that really frustrated Sabalenka when Anisimova celebrated a backhand winner before the ball had even gone past her.
‘I was just trying to chase the ball and, yeah, she was already celebrating it,’ said Sabalenka. ‘I was, like, I mean, that’s a bit too early. Then she kind of p****d me off saying that, oh, that’s what she does all the time.
‘I was grateful she actually said that because it actually helped me to keep fighting. I’m like, okay, now I’m going to show you the tennis. So I came back because I got really angry in that moment.
‘So probably in the third set I should have remembered and it probably will help!’
Tempers appeared to have died down by the time Anisimova went on to claim the match 6-4, 4-6, 6-4 as the pair embraced with a hug at the net.
‘This doesn’t feel real right now,’ said Anisimova. ‘Aryna is such a tough competitor and I was absolutely dying out there. I don’t know how I pulled it off, shes’s an incredible competitor and an inspiration to me and to so many people.
‘We have had so many tough battles and to come out on top and reach the final at Wimbledon is incredibly special.’
Frustrated, Sabalenka turned to the American and questioned: ‘Why didn’t you say sorry?’
The two stars embraced after the match, which Anisimova won 6-4, 4-6, 6-4 to reach the final
Sabalenka came to the help of a fan struggling with the Centre Court heat during the match
During the tense semi-final on Centre Court, Sabalenka rushed to the aid of an ill supporter who was struggling with the sweltering heat.
The match on Centre Court was delayed for more than five minutes early in the first set after a woman fainted in the soaring 30-degree heat.
A concerned Sabalenka went over with a water bottle and an ice pack and handed it to a spectator in the front row.
The stricken member of the crowd was shielded with a Wimbledon umbrella and fanned by another nearby spectator before two stewards helped her from her seat and to the exit.
The match also had to be stopped shortly after as Anisimova led 5-4 when another fan took ill in the heat and needed to be protected by umbrellas before play quickly resumed.
Reacting to Sabalenka’s heroics, one fan on X said: ‘Class’.
One commented: ‘Kind gesture appreciated here.’
Another wrote: ‘So many fans at Wimbledon are sat in the stands with no shade and many are not even wearing any sun hats/caps.
‘The humidity inside Centre Court is so much more too. Remember to stay hydrated and take protection from the sun. Nice touch from Sabalenka.’