Sabalenka claws past Siegemund to reach semi-finals

Wimbledon 2025

Dates: 30 June-13 July Venue: All England Club

Coverage: Live across BBC TV, radio and online with extensive coverage on BBC iPlayer, Red Button, Connected TVs and mobile app. Full coverage guide.

World number one Aryna Sabalenka narrowly avoided a seismic shock as she fought back to beat veteran Laura Siegemund and claw her way into the Wimbledon semi-finals.

The Belarusian, the heavy favourite for the title, had to twice come back from a break down in the deciding set to beat the 37-year-old German 4-6 6-2 6-4.

Sabalenka has reached the final of the past three majors and, with most of her rivals falling in the first week of SW19, she has an incredible chance of reaching Saturday's showpiece.

But few would have predicted the almighty scare that Siegemund - who had previously never gone beyond the second round in singles here - came within touching distance of completing.

Siegemund, more noted for her doubles prowess, drove Sabalenka to distraction with her slices, brilliant returning and generally slow pace of play.

It took all of Sabalenka's grit and determination to hang in and eventually advance after two hours and 54 minutes.

Siegemund will face either 13th seed Amanda Anisimova or Russian Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova for a place in a first Wimbledon singles final.