Aryna Sabalenka fought her way into the Wimbledon quarter-finals after overcoming a stern test from Elise Mertens on Centre Court. 

Sabalenka, who is one of only four top-10 seeds remaining in the women's draw, ensured there would be no upset here with a 6-4 7-6 (7-4) win over the Belgian. 

A timely break in the fourth game saw Sabalenka take control of proceedings, and after being broken back, the world number one sealed the opener on her opponent's serve in game 10.

Mertens came out swinging in the second and quickly broke the world number one, though Sabalenka was able to overcome that early setback to force a tie-break. 

From there, Sabalenka showcased her class to seal safe passage to the next round, ending a brief rally with a volley at the net that Mertens was unable to return. 

Next stop QF

Aryna Sabalenka will face Laura Siegemund for a spot in the final 4!#Wimbledon pic.twitter.com/NQQ74kY8ve

— wta (@WTA) July 6, 2025

Sabalenka's reward for her victory is a tie against Laura Siegemund, who downed Solana Sierra in straight sets to make history in SW19. 

Siegemund's 6-3 6-2 victory saw her become the oldest player to reach their maiden women's singles quarter-final at Wimbledon in the Open Era (37 years and 118 days). 

Elsewhere, hopes of a British winner in the women's draw were dashed after Sonay Kartal was beaten by Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova in a match overshadowed by controversy. 

At 4-4 in the first set, Pavlyuchenkova, who had saved two break points in that game, held game point when Kartal struck a backhand that landed clearly beyond the baseline. 

But no call of out came, a mistake later attributed to an "operator error" with the new electronic line-calling technology.

Instead of Pavlyuchenkova being awarded the point, it was replayed, with Kartal going on to take the point.

"I don't know if it's in or out. How do I know? How can you prove it?," Pavlyuchenkova told the umpire. 

"Because she is local, they can say whatever. You took the game away from me. They stole the game from me. They stole it."

Pavlyuchenkova, however, was able to regain her composure, saving break point and dominating the tie-break before sealing a 7-6 (7-3) 6-4 victory. 

2016 - Wimbledon quarter-finalist
2025 - Wimbledon quarter-finalist

Nine years later, Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova is back in the last 8 at #Wimbledon pic.twitter.com/epaLw6jghm

— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) July 6, 2025

Data Debrief: Sabalenka continues to impress

After suffering a heartbreaking defeat in the French Open final last month, Sabalenka has used that disappointment as fuel as she looks to win her first Wimbledon title. 

She continues to impress in major tournaments. Indeed, since 1990, only Steffi Graf (17), Serena Williams (16) and Gabriela Sabatini (15) have ever made more consecutive quarter-finals in women's singles grand slam events than Sabalenka (11).

The Belarusian is also just the fourth player in the last 30 years to reach the women's singles quarter-finals at each of the first three majors of the season without dropping a set en route, after Venus Williams (1998), Kim Clijsters and Justine Henin (both 2006).

Sabalenka has also won 16 WTA level tie-breaks in 2025, already equalling the highest tally in a single calendar year in the Open Era (level with Billie Jean King in 1971, Wendy Turnbull in 1978 and Elena Rybakina in 2023).