Laura Siegemund gave Aryna Sabalenka an almighty scare at Wimbledon before the world number one prevailed to make the last four.
Sabalenka is bidding to reach a first final at Wimbledon and despite an extremely frustrating quarter-final, she does live to fight another day.
Siegemund tried every tactic possible to knock Sabalenka out of her rhythm and the anger was clear for all to see during the entertaining clash.
John McEnroe was an intrigued spectator during the last eight clash and it wasn’t the first time he’d seen those tactics from the German performer.
John McEnroe recalls when Siegemund drove Coco Gauff ‘crazy’
The tennis world were denied the possibility of a repeat of the French Open final between Gauff and Sabalenka as early as the first round at Wimbledon.
Roland Garros champion Gauff was sent packing in round one by Dayana Yastremska to send shockwaves across the All England Club.
Gauff might have watched Sabalenka’s match yesterday with a smirk on her face, knowing full well what Siegemund is capable of.
McEnroe remembers the game well and he’s claimed the German did exactly the same in 2023 at the US Open as she did yesterday at Wimbledon.
He said on BBC One: “I saw Siegmund play Coco, what was it, two years ago at the US Open, driving her absolutely crazy, she did the same thing with the slice approach as she did yesterday against Sabalenka. She’s got it.
“In the men’s side you get players like Mpetshi-Perricard and you go I don’t want to play those, you don’t get those in the women’s side who can serve you off the court but there are a few players, like Siegmund, I bet you they look at the draw and they’re like ‘oh I should beat you 6-2, 6-2’, when they get out there and play her they’re just not used to that on grass.”
Sabalenka can now emulate Gauff in 2023
Gauff had to deal with the tactics from Siegemund in 2023 in the very first round of the US Open but she went on and won the tournament!
Now, Sabalenka has done the same and could also go on and lift the Wimbledon title this weekend.
It would be the first time that Sabalenka has won this Grand Slam and she will be desperate to tick off the title that every tennis player so desperately craves.
It’s hard to knock Siegemund for the tactics she has deployed at this event, as different styles are what make the sport of tennis so special.
However, Sabalenka will be glad to see the back of the German player and will now hope to get her hands on the title.
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