Sabalenka avoids it being curtains against Mertens
After breaking local hearts by knocking out home favourite Emma Raducanu in a rare old battle in the previous round, the top seed again had an uncomfortable outing against her old doubles partner and friend Elise Mertens before prevailing 6-4 7-6 (7-4) on Sunday.
It meant she had booked a last-eight place without yet dropping a set, even though none of her matches so far have been straightforward affairs.
One step closer to achieving a lifelong dream ✨#Wimbledon | @SabalenkaA pic.twitter.com/f1DUOqkAej
— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) July 6, 2025
"Roland Garros was also quite challenging," conceded the Belarusian, who's kept up her remarkable run of reaching the quarters in her last 11 grand slams.
"I love these challenges. I think every time you go through these tough matches, you kind of bring your game to the next level, and it helps to improve your game as well.
"I feel like, with every match I'm playing here, I'm getting better and better mentally and also physically. So I love these tough challenges. I only hope to get better and better in each round."
Next up for Sabalenka, who missed last year's event with injury and the 2022 edition due to the ban on Russian and Belarusian players, will be Laura Siegemund, the 37-year-old German who had caused the shock of the third round with her victory over Australian Open champion Madison Keys.
Siegemund had only won two singles matches in her five previous Wimbledons but has now twice that many in this edition alone, as she made it through to the last eight with a 6-3 6-2 victory over Argentinian lucky loser Solana Sierra.
The German does not lack for self-confidence but even she's a little shocked at how far she's gone as she's become the oldest woman player to reach a maiden Wimbledon quarter-final.
"Of course I am surprised. If you would have told me I play quarter-finals here, I would have never believed it," she said.
"On the other hand, it's a very simple math always in tennis. You have an opponent, either you find good solutions and you execute well, you go forward, or you don't, and you don't go forward.
"As I said after big wins before, I have this game and this maybe boldness to take out big names. I've always had that, just maybe because I don't care who is on the other side. In a positive, respectful way, I don't care."
Another veteran, 34-year-old Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, reached her first Wimbledon quarter-final in nine years, defeating Briton Sonay Kartal 7-6 (7-3) 6-4.
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New York Times
an hour ago
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New York Times
an hour ago
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Behind the scenes at Everton's new £800m stadium
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The platform is so high that smaller members of the press may end up needing a hand putting their dictaphones in front of Moyes. We work our way through the bowels of the West Stand towards the tunnel. On one side, there are booths for post-match interviews. Opposite, there will be a glass wall behind which members of Everton's new Tunnel Club can sit and watch the action unfold. There are multiple routes for the players but they will be encouraged to head past that era pre and post match. Temporary wooding flooring has been put in to preserve the carpet as work continues in front of us. A retractable blue tunnel is being installed during our visit, while there is an acceptance one side of the tunnel will need Everton decorations. Goodison's tunnel had pictures of fans, players and legends in a banner style. Something similar is likely at Hill Dickinson. The bulk of the remaining work is in the corporate lounges, with hundreds of staff every day said to be helping with the internal fit-outs. As such, some of those areas are off limits. With the stadium move, the club's corporate capacity is set to swell from around 1,500 to 5,500. Heading outside by the dugout area, the pitch already looks immaculate. The initial surface used for the first two test events was dug up and relaid in April. Goodison had a camber for drainage purposes. Here, there is no need due to an advanced undersoil heating system. There have been small recent cosmetic changes with the stadium bowl. Numbers have been put on supporter entrances and accessibility markings are now in place. Sight lines are much improved from the dugouts. Previously, Goodison's camber meant staff were effectively below pitch level, straining for a view of the action. Some preferred to sit in the press box at a higher vantage point. The home dressing room is far cry from Goodison too — spacious and circular instead of rectangular and cramped. A huge blue Everton crest is emblazoned on the ceiling. The adjoining rooms house showers and hydrotherapy pools, with a sole TV hanging from the wall of the latter. There is a faith room for players. Other room functions are still subject to potential change as staff assess how best to use each space. The two-tiered South Stand will hold around 14,000 home fans and has rail seating in the lower section. Rail seating will also be available in the away end, situated in the corner of the North Stand. At a 34.99° gradient, the South Stand is as steep as it can be while remaining within the rules, with the legal limit 35°. Meis' idea was to create the sense of supporters being close and on top of the pitch, aiding the atmosphere. The acoustics of the roof have been designed to allow sounds to reverberate around the stadium. There is still space, towards the top of the South Stand, reserved for Hill Dickinson branding if needed. Advertisement The long South Stand concourse offers stunning views of Liverpool's waterfront and city centre skyline. Everton hope supporters will remain there after games, making use of the food and drink on offer. Already selected as a host venue for Euro 2028, the club want the stadium to be used 365 days a year. In total, there will be 747 toilets at Hill Dickinson Stadium. Everton say it be the most accessible stadium in the UK, with its 279 wheelchair bays the most of any football arena. The club also believe it will the most sustainable stadium in the country, harnessing sun, wind and rainwater to utilise 100 per cent green energy. Some supporters have called for more Everton iconography inside the stadium. Goodison, with its painted blue and white seats, was unique and instantly recognisable. For now, at least, all seats at Hill Dickinson are blue. While there is potential for blue seats to be changed to white if necessary, the club believes the use of LED displays and big screens will make the stadium feel more 'homely'. A fan mural, also featuring Everton legends, is still to go up on the west side of the stadium. No plans are in place to bring any of Goodison's statues to the new site. The idea is that club icons will remain at Goodison, where they forged their legacy. In time, new heroes and statues may well appear at Hill Dickinson too. A new chapter is just around the corner for Everton. The work to get the new stadium ready for its curtain raiser continues apace. (Design: Eamonn Dalton for The Athletic; Images: Everton FC, Getty)
