World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus secured her spot in the Wimbledon women's singles quarterfinals on Sunday, overcoming a spirited challenge from Belgium's Elise Mertens with a 6-4, 7-6 (4) victory. The match marked Sabalenka's 10th consecutive singles win against her former doubles partner, with whom she claimed Grand Slam titles at the 2019 US Open and 2021 Australian Open.
Sabalenka, now the highest-seeded player remaining in the women's draw, showcased her trademark power and resilience. After building a 4-1 lead in the first set, she weathered Mertens' comeback to clinch the opener with eight decisive points in the final three games. The second set saw Mertens break early, but Sabalenka's relentless baseline aggression and a crucial tie-break volley sealed the match in 90 minutes.
The three-time Grand Slam champion will next face Germany's Laura Siegemund on Tuesday. With no top-six seeds left in her path, Sabalenka's quest for her first Wimbledon final gains momentum as she continues to dominate on grass.
