Aryna Sabalenka is now in a commanding position in this second set, moving into a 5-3 lead after holding serve.
There it is – Aryna Sabalenka has finally broken Amanda Anisimova’s serve.
The American, who had saved four break points in the match, doesn’t look very happy hitting her forehand at the moment, with a couple of big errors in that game coming off that side.
To make matters worse, it’s a double fault on break point that gives Sabalenka the game.
Sabalenka now leads 4-3 in the second set and will serve next.
It’s a tough service game for Aryna Sabalenka, but she eventually holds with a big ace out wide – and lets out a celebratory roar as she levels the scores at 3-3 in the second set.
It’s the climactic week at Wimbledon, the world’s most prestigious tennis tournament, and the usual sights and sounds are on display:
Players competing in their traditional white. Well-dressed celebrities in the royal box. Fans eating bowls of strawberries and cream.
And … the grunting. Lots of grunting.
If you’ve watched much professional tennis, the grunting is hard to miss. Many top players make some sort of noise as they are striking the ball – an audible sign of effort that can range from a muffled grunt to a piercing shriek.
This has long been the subject of debate in the genteel tennis world, with many fans and some former players complaining that it’s too much racket.
“It’s not necessary,” tennis legend Martina Navratilova once said. “There’s no reason to be making that noise when you’re hitting a ball. We’re not lifting 200 pounds over our head.”
In past decades, most of the scrutiny about on-court grunting was aimed – perhaps unfairly – at women players. Former player Maria Sharapova’s world-class shrieks were once measured at 101 decibels – roughly the level of a pneumatic drill. When Sharapova faced fellow grunter Victoria Azarenka in the final of the 2012 Australian Open, one headline called it a “scream-queen” matchup. Serena Williams, one of the best players of all time, was another prolific grunter.
The Women’s Tennis Association (WTA), which oversees the women’s professional tour, addressed gripes about on-court grunting in 2012, saying it would work with coaches and tennis academies to quiet the noises players make in matches.
But more recently, it’s the male players who have drawn complaints, and sanctions, for their grunts.
In a 2023 Wimbledon semifinal against Jannik Sinner, Novak Djokovic was penalized a point by the chair umpire for a long grunt he made after ripping a backhand down the line. And during a quarterfinal match last year at the French Open, Stefanos Tsitsipas complained to the umpire about an “extended grunt” from Carlos Alcaraz during a pivotal second-set tiebreak. Tsitsipas didn’t like the timing of the grunt, which he said came “when I’m about to hit the shot.”
So why do tennis players grunt, anyway? Experts cite several reasons. They also say that while grunting in matches may annoy spectators, it can actually improve performance.
- It helps players breathe better
- It can throw off opponents
- It boosts velocity
Related article Why tennis players grunt during matches
Amanda Anisimova won’t have many easier service games than that as she holds to love.
Aryna Sabalenka is starting to voice her frustration out on the court after dumping a forehand return into the net.
Anisimova leads 3-2.
Another straightforward hold of serve for Aryna Sabalenka in this set, emphatically finished off by an ace, ties the scores at 2-2 in the second set.
Witnessing these two big-hitters up close is quite remarkable.
It’s the sound, more than anything, that is the most impressive. Both women have had several shots when the ball sounds like it’s exploding after impact with the racket, with the noise echoing around Centre Court.
A couple of Sabalenka’s forehand returns have drawn gasps from the crowd, as have some of Anisimova’s booming backhands.
With that double fault from her opponent moments ago, Amanda Anisimova moved within touching distance of a first grand slam final – a potentially seismic moment in her career.
The American is only appearing in her second major semifinal, her last one coming at the 2019 French Open when she was only 17.
Needless to say she is a very different player – and person – this time around having taken a seven-month break from the sport in 2023.
Prior to that, Anisimova said that she was finding it “unbearable being at tennis tournaments” and needed the time away to focus on her mental health and recovering from burnout.
She’s been reaping the rewards of that self-imposed break this year, climbing to a career-high 12th in the world rankings. And now, the 23-year-old has taken a set off the world No. 1 and has a Wimbledon final in her sights.
The good news from here? Anisimova has beaten Sabalenka more times (five) than she has any other player throughout her career.
Aryna Sabalenka looks as though she is starting to get a hold of some of Amanda Anisimova’s serves, taking her to deuce that service game.
But Anisimova’s hitting has been too powerful and too consistent so far and she eventually holds serve to edge 2-1 ahead.
That is a very comfortable hold for Sabalenka and it must feel good after being broken last time, even if she expresses a bit of frustration by throwing the ball to the ground.
1-1 in the second set.
We had two stoppages in play during that first set because of fans struggling in the Centre Court heat.
Both incidents happened on the same side of the court which is facing directly into the sun.
There are now plenty of empty seats in that stand at the start of this second set, with fans clearly taking shelter in the stadium’s concourse.
Meanwhile, the heat doesn’t seem to be impacting the players with both still throwing everything into this semifinal.
Amanda Anisimova backs up that break of serve at the end of the opening set with a very comfortable hold to start the second.
1-0 Anisimova.
It could be a huge moment in this semifinal, but Anisimova barely reacted after winning that first set in dramatic fashion.
She simply walked straight back to her seat without any obvious celebration. She’s now sitting in some shade with an ice towel around her neck.
Meanwhile, Sabalenka has walked off the court momentarily. There was no obvious sign of any injury so likely just a bathroom break.
A massive second set coming up now.
Wow! A double fault from Aryna Sabalenka gifts Amanda Anisimova the first break of serve and, with it, the first set.
That was the longest game of the match so far with six deuces and two set points, and Sabalenka will surely be kicking herself for throwing it away after fighting so hard to stay in it.
Anisimova takes the first set 6-4.
Another spectator appears to be struggling in the heat, and Aryna Sabalenka is once again on hand to pass a bottle of water into the stands.
Three umbrellas have also been brought out to shield the individual, seated near the edge of the court by the baseline, from the sun.
It’s very hot on Centre Court, and some of those in the crowd are clearly struggling to cope.
After another break in play, the match has resumed with Sabalenka serving to stay in the set at 5-4.
A crushing backhand winner from Amanda Anisimova sees out a comfortable service game as we now enter crunch time in the opening set.
Aryna Sabalenka to serve at 4-5.
An incredible sliced winner on a return of serve from Amanda Anisimova looked to have put Aryna Sabalenka on the back foot in that service game, but the No. 1 seed powers her way back as the pair continue to bludgeon their ground strokes in these rallies.
It’s now 4-4 in the first set.
We’ve just had two intriguing games midway through this first set with both players failing to convert on multiple break points.
Anisimova had two chances to get her nose in front at 3-2, but Sabalenka went on to win the next six points across a break in play to help a stricken supporter in the stands.
That gave the world No. 1 a chance to seize the initiative, but she was unable to capitalize on any of her four break points as Anisimova scrambled well to remain on serve.
Those huge chances for both players have now gone begging.
It sometimes takes a while for crowds to warm up to tennis matches, but Centre Court is now building a brilliant atmosphere.
Fans have had time to pick the player they want to win and are now shouting in support from the stands in between points.
The players are also doing their bit. That last game was brilliant drama with moments of pure magic from each of them.
Amanda Anisimova faced four break points in that service game but comes through to lead 4-3 in the first set.
A couple of double faults and some wayward ground strokes got her into hot water at 0-40 down, but she stayed brave with her hitting and eventually got the better of Sabalenka.
