Aryna Sabalenka expressed her disappointment after being unexpectedly defeated by Amanda Anisimova in the semi-finals of the 2025 Wimbledon. 

Sabalenka advanced to her third grand slam final of 2025 and battled against the 13th seed on Centre Court. Sabalenka dropped the first set; however, she gained momentum by levelling the match in the second set and quickly secured a break in the final set. Regardless of her efforts, Anisimova fought back strongly and secured a 6-4, 4-6, 6-4 final win, reaching her maiden Grand Slam final. 

With this, Sabalenka admitted in a post-match press conference: “Losing sucks… You always feel like you want to die, you don’t want to exist any more, and this is the end of your life.” 

She added: “Every time you compete at that tournament, and you get to the last stages, you think you’re getting close to your dream. Then you lose the match, and you feel like, ‘okay, this is the end.’” 

Sabalenka’s Wimbledon journey 

Wimbledon is the only Grand Slam where Sabalenka has yet to make it to the final round. She has been eliminated at the semi-final stage three times over the past five years. Sabalenka also missed the other two tournaments–one due to a ban and the other, to her injury that forced her exit in 2024. 

The athlete shared: “It’s tough to think about that, but I really hope so. I lost three semis, three tough ones. Then I was banned from playing. Then I was injured.” 

“So I really have more of a hate relationship right now with Wimbledon, but I hope that one day I will turn it around and have a love relationship,” she said. 

In the previous Grand Slams, Sabalenka was criticised for her post-match remarks after losing to Coco Gauff at this year’s French Open final. Furthermore, she also expressed criticism towards Anisimova regarding two moments in the deciding set– first, when Anisimova prematurely celebrated winning a point before the ball had cleared Sabalenka’s racquet, and second, when she failed to apologise after a winner that just grazed the net cord.

Sabalenka noted: “She was already celebrating it. I was like, ‘that’s a bit too early’. Then she p***** me off, saying that’s what she does all...