Top-ranked Aryna Sabalenka has qualified to the third round of the ongoing 2025 Wimbledon women’s singles after overcoming Czech Republic’s Marie Bouzkova on Wednesday.
The Belarusian battled for an hour and 35 minutes before securing a 7-6 (7-4), 6-4 victory.
A frustrated Sabalenka let out a scream when she failed to convert a breakpoint in the following game but the 27-year-old quickly composed herself to force a tiebreak with a backhand winner on her next opportunity.
“That was a tough moment in the match,” Sabalenka said.
“I was just trying to put the ball back on that side and then hope that I’d be able to break her back, because until that point, my returns weren’t great enough to break her serve and I’m really glad everything clicked.
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“I felt a bit better in that moment and I think that’s why I was able to win the tiebreak and get the win in straight sets.”
Sabalenka said she’s gradually mastered how to manage herself in early matches.
“I know that if I’ll be focusing on myself and if I’ll be there fighting for every point, I know that I have big chances to get through,” she told reporters. “Before I would get too nervous, I would think about everything outside of tennis, outside of that court. Nowadays, I’m trying to just think take it one step at a time basically.”
Next up is an enticing matchup Friday against the winner of the later contest between Marketa Vondrousova and Emma Raducanu, Grand Slam champions both.
