World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka continued her dominant run at Wimbledon 2025, booking a place in the quarterfinals after a straight-sets win over Elise Mertens, her former doubles partner and close rival.
Sabalenka defeated Mertens 6-4, 7-6 (4) in their Round of 16 clash at the All England Club, notching up her 11th win in 13 meetings against the Belgian.
This encounter held added emotional weight, as the duo had won their first Grand Slam title together in doubles at the US Open six years ago.
“It’s always special playing Elise. We’ve had great memories together, but I knew I had to be at my best,” said Sabalenka after the match.
The 27-year-old Belarusian, who missed Wimbledon in 2023 due to injury and was banned in 2022 amid geopolitical sanctions, is making a strong case for her first-ever Wimbledon crown. She has previously reached the semifinals in 2021 and 2023 but is now only three wins away from completing her Grand Slam collection.
Sabalenka is the last remaining player among the top six seeds in the women’s draw and is now set to face 37-year-old Laura Siegemund, who comfortably beat Solana Sierra 6-3, 6-2.
Dominant Stats:
Sabalenka finished the match with:
- 6 aces
- 36 winners
- 32/38 first-serve points won
- 18 unforced errors (equal to Mertens)
Her Grand Slam form has been phenomenal—this is her 10th consecutive Grand Slam quarterfinal appearance. She also leads in Grand Slam match wins this year with 16, and has registered 46 overall wins in 2025, according to WTA.
Elise Mertens: Strong But Outclassed
While Mertens, ranked World No. 19, fought hard, the 29-year-old Belgian, who won the Libema Open last month and came in with a 15-7 Wimbledon record, couldn’t match Sabalenka’s power and precision.
Despite the loss, Mertens’ strong grass season remains commendable and she’s expected to continue making waves in the second half of the tennis calendar.
Sabalenka now eyes her fourth Grand Slam title—and her first Wimbledon crown—as she prepares to take on Siegemund in the quarterfinals.