“Wimbledon title or world No 1? I want both!” Sabalenka sets sights high after reaching semi-final

Aryna Sabalenka has always had big dreams but she is not looking too far ahead at Wimbledon this year

Aryna Sabalenka at Wimbledon in 2023 (Action Plus/Panoramic)

July 12, 2023

Aryna Sabalenka was on buoyant form after beating Madison Keys 6-2, 6-4 to reach the Wimbledon semi-final.

She knows that should she reach the final, she will overtake Iga Swiatek as world No 1 – and should she win it, she will fulfil a lifelong dream.

Asked which was the bigger motivator of the two, she smiled: “To be honest, I want both! But I’m trying to focus on myself because I know if I’ll start thinking about all this stuff, I’m going to lose my focus on court, my game. So I’m trying to focus on myself right now and make sure that every time I’m on the court I bring my best tennis.

Sabalenka: I dreamt of lifting this beautiful trophy

The 25-year-old had said on court that she had dreamt of winning Wimbledon as a little girl, and told journalists afterwards: “I remember myself, I don’t know, 14 or 15 years old going on my practice with the headphones listening to music and, like, dreaming becoming one of the best players in the world, dreaming about lifting this beautiful trophy.

“I mean, that’s something unbelievable. That’s something what really motivates me a lot, that I was able to become one of the best. I’m competing on the high level. So that’s something big for me.”

She will face Ons Jabeur in the semi-final – and the Tunisian had joked after her own three-set quarter-final that she was disappointed that Sabalenka’s match was over so quickly.

“I saw that! I was in the locker room watching her interview sending kisses and love!” laughed Sabalenka, before adding: “She’s very nice girl. She has such a good sense of humour. I don’t think it’s going to give me any advantage.”