Martina Navratilova has now predicted how she thinks Aryna Sabalenka’s Wimbledon semi-final match with Amanda Anisimova will go.
A battle of the bruising ball-strikers, this tie pits two of the game’s hardest hitters against one another.
There will be little ground given as they exchange heavy blows from the baseline, and fireworks are almost assured as the Belarusian bids to make it into her first-ever Wimbledon final.
It will be far from easy, toppling the in-form Anisimova. However, Aryna Sabalenka will be glad just to be in the match, given how far Laura Siegemund pushed her in the previous round.
Fortunately for the world number one, her next opponent is arguably the polar opposite to the tricky 37-year-old she has just overcome.
Martina Navratilova predicts Aryna Sabalenka vs Amanda Anisimova
Speaking live on the BBC in the aftermath of Anisimova’s emphatic win, Navratilova was full of praise for the American.
And, seeking to preview her upcoming semi-final showdown against Aryna Sabalenka, the pundit rated her chances of upsetting the world number one.
Navratilova, when asked if she gave Anisimova a good chance, replied: “I certainly do. With that head-to-head, she knows she can beat her. She’s done it before.
“First time on grass for both of them, but they both like the ball a little bit bouncing, a little bit higher, but they are rhythm players and they like to get on top of the rally and it’ll be interesting to see who can get the better of the other on that front because neither prefers defending.
“And I think Sabalenka will be happy to play somebody who plays like her rather than Siegemund, the choppy, slicy, dicey stuff. Now she should get a normal ball to hit, but she will need to play better either way than she did in that quarter-final match.
“Amanda Anisimova got it done. A little topsy turvy, but held her nerve when she had to, when it mattered the most. So I think it’s in a way it’s better that she won this way than 6-1, 6-2.”
Sabalenka was accused of playing horrendous tennis against Siegemund, but she is the one in the Wimbledon semi-finals…
Aryna Sabalenka scraped past Laura Siegemund to reach Wimbledon semi-final
As Navratilova suggests, Sabalenka will have to play much better if she is to reach her first Wimbledon final.
However, she will be delighted that Anisimova’s game could not be more different from Siegemund’s, which left her frustrated throughout.
Her variety was immense, shifting from awkward slices and nasty drop shots to deep balls at a moment’s notice. It must have been infuriating to play against, made even more annoying due to the gamesmanship on show by the German.
And yet, Sabalenka came through, coming from a set down, and later a break down in the third set, to secure her semi-final spot.
It was far from convincing, but she exhibited her champion’s mindset to overcome such a wily, uncomfortable opponent.
Now, the challenge will be completely different, as the heavy ball-striking Anisimova awaits her.
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