Aryna Sabalenka outclasses Ekaterina Alexandrova to reach Wimbledon quarter-finals, Madison Keys awaits

Aryna Sabalenka defeated Ekaterina Alexandrova 6-4 6-0 on Monday afternoon to reach the Wimbledon quarter-finals. Sabalenka was unable to compete at Wimbledon last year due to the ban on Russian and Belarusian players, but after a year away she looks to be one of the favourites alongside world No. 1 Iga Swiatek and defending champion Elena Rybakina.

Ad She already has this season’s Australian Open to her name and is on course — for now at least — to make it two Grand Slams in a calendar year. WimbledonWimbledon 2023: Day 7 Order of Play and schedule – When are Djokovic, Swiatek and Pegula playing?YESTERDAY AT 21:23 She was facing Alexandrova, another player forced to miss last year due to her Russian passport, and she had her opponent on the back foot as she utilised not just her superior power, but her nous. Her tactic of employing drop-shots stopped her rival from finding her rhythm at crucial points in the first set, including the final game to bring up three set points before Alexandrova was broken on a double-fault.

In the second set, she took the first game with a superb inside-out forehand and then broke Alexandrova immediately, while another double-fault on break point moved the second seed 4-0 up with victory looking assured. A bagel set swiftly followed. Djokovic battles past Hurkacz to move three wins from eighth Wimbledon title Rybakina into quarter-finals after Haddad Maia retires injured, Andreeva out Medvedev into first Wimbledon quarter-final follow Lehecka retirement American Madison Keys, the 25th seed, awaits in the last eight.

Speaking on court to the BBC after her win, Sabalenka said: «I think it was a great match. I'm super happy with this win. Ekaterina Alexandrova is a really tough opponent to