Sabalenka draws on lessons from French Open to avoid Wimbledon upset

• Top seed Aryna Sabalenka has narrowly avoided a major Wimbledon upset, defeating world number 104 Laura Siegemund in a hard-fought quarter-final.
• Sabalenka, who had not dropped a set previously, lost the first set 4-6 and faced a break deficit twice in the deciding set against the German veteran.
• Despite Siegemund's tactical play, which included delaying serves, Sabalenka maintained her composure to secure a 4-6 6-2 6-4 victory.
• Sabalenka admitted she considered booking an early flight home during the match, crediting lessons learned from her recent French Open final defeat, at the hands of Coco Gauff, for her resilience.
• The 27-year-old, who will now face American 13th seed Amanda Anisimova in the semi-finals, says she told herself: “You cannot give up, you cannot let the emotions just take over you and lose another match.”

IN FULL

Aryna Sabalenka was ready to book tickets home before quarter-final comeback