Aryna Sabalenka is firing on all cylinders at Wimbledon. She breezed past Canadian Carson Branstine 6-1, 7-5, then survived a tense tiebreak against Marie Bouzkova. After straight-set wins over Raducanu and Elise Martens—both needed a tiebreak—she faced a scare in the quarterfinal, dropping the first set to Laura Siegemund before rallying to win 6-2, 6-4. Now, Sabalenka is charging into her third Wimbledon semifinal against Amanda Anisimova. But the London heat seems to be taking the spotlight!

During the first set, a spectator seemed to suffer from the rising London heat, causing a pause in the match. Reporter James Sharpe shared on X, “Delay on Centre Court as a member of the crowd takes ill in the brutal heat. Aryna Sabalenka wanders over with a bottle of water and passes it to someone in the front row.” A thoughtful move from the World No.1, right

This isn’t the first time the weather has taken its toll. On the first two days, temperatures soared to 29.7°C to 34.2 °C, according to reports. It even caused a stoppage during Carlos Alcaraz’s match when an elderly woman fainted in the crowd. Like Sabalenka, Alcaraz rushed to get water for her.

Will this brief interruption shake Sabalenka’s focus? Only time will tell. The first set is still underway, with Amanda leading 5-4. It’s shaping up to be a nail-biter! Meanwhile, catch instant updates and full coverage of the Championships at EssentiallySports.

The weather at Wimbledon has been relentless this year, with temperatures hitting 84 degrees Fahrenheit (28 degrees Celsius) and many fans baking under the direct sun. According to the UK publication Standard, things are about to get even hotter. Temperatures are expected to climb into the low 30s Celsius, possibly peaking at a scorching 36 degrees Celsius—7 degrees hotter than the previous warmest start on June 25, 2001, when it reached 29.3 degrees Celsius.

The tournament’s record high is 35.7 degrees Celsius, set on July 1, 2015, so this year could rewrite the heat charts. While the weather is expected to cool off a bit later in the first week and over the weekend, the heat will return as the quarter-finals and semi-finals kick off. Will it settle down in time for the finals? Let’s hope so!

Currently the match has moved into its third set! With Aryna taking the second set at 6-4, after losing the first to Anisimova 4-6! All eyes are on the World No.1 as she eyes her chance to play at the finals for the first time! But she’s been grabbing attention quite a bit at this year’s tournament.

Aryna Sabalenka under fire for nearly breaking Wimbledon’s rule

During her quarterfinal against Laura Siegemund, Aryna faced a tough challenge. The 37-year-old German, ranked No. 104, played fearlessly with delicate drop shots and sharp slices that unsettled Sabalenka. Even after double-faulting twice at 5-3, Siegemund recovered to close the set 6-4 with an unreturnable serve. Sabalenka’s usual fire turned to frustration, visible as she slumped with a towel over her face during the changeover. Then the Belarusian made a decision that seemed to frustrate many. What happened?

Aryna Sabalenka took a bathroom break that reportedly lasted six minutes—one minute over Wimbledon’s official five-minute limit. The chair umpire didn’t call a time violation, but many viewers online weren’t thrilled. However, she seems to be keeping cool.

Despite a few moments of frustration and raised voices, Sabalenka is trying to stay composed. Now, the big question: can she beat Amanda Anisimova? A win would also make her the eighth consecutive first-time Wimbledon women’s singles champion. For Sabalenka—who replaced Swiatek at No. 1 in October—this defeat prevented her from becoming the first woman to reach four consecutive Grand Slam finals since Serena Williams a decade ago. Sabalenka is also trying to become the first woman to reach three major finals in a single year since Angelique Kerber and Serena Williams did it in 2016 (the latter at Roland Garros). It’s worth noting that she fell in her two previous Wimbledon semifinals, in 2021 and 2023. Her fire and hunger are undeniable, but Amanda is a tough opponent.

Anisimova’s story is one of grit and belief. After converting her fourth match point against Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, she laughed and cried on No. 1 Court. Starting 2024 outside the Top 400 after a mental health break, she’s now a match away from her first Grand Slam final and set to crack the WTA Top 10. At 23, she’s the youngest American woman in Wimbledon semis since Serena in 2004.

Anisimova’s stats back her confidence—she’s won 11 grass matches this year, more than any other WTA player, with a 68.42% win rate on grass, edging Sabalenka’s 67.21%. With a 26–12 career grass record, the stage is set! The match is at a decider set, with Amanda leading. Can Aryna Sabalenka rally and take the win? We’d love to hear your take. Comment below!

Update: Amanda Anisimova defeated Aryna Sabalenka 6–4, 4–6, 6–4 in a gripping semifinal clash on Centre Court, ending the World No.1’s Wimbledon run.