Aryna Sabalenka s'est qualifiée ce mercredi pour les demi-finales de Wimbledon. La Biélorusse a facilement disposé de Madison Keys en deux sets, 6-2, 6-4. La 2e joueuse mondiale a mis fin à une série de neuf victoires consécutives de l'Américaine. Alors qu'elle affrontera Ons Jabeur pour une place en finale, Sabalenka aura l'occasion, si elle remporte son duel contre la Tunisienne, d'accéder au trône du tennis mondial.
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00:00 It was amazing. I'm super happy to be back in the semifinals and really looking forward
00:05 to my semifinals match. I want to do a little bit better than I did last time here.
00:10 You said on court you felt the crowd wanted Madison Keys. Was it a struggle for you to
00:22 play with that atmosphere, with that in mind?
00:24 No, I kind of expected them to support her more than me. Anyway, it was an amazing atmosphere.
00:33 Even if they support her, I was really enjoying playing in front of them.
00:41 Christian Radnich, Reuters. There was a moment in the second set when you were broken and
00:49 Madison looked like she might have a bit of momentum, but you snatched it right back and
00:54 were able to go on and win the set comfortably. What happened there and what did you tell
01:00 yourself to make sure that it didn't get away from you?
01:04 She played unbelievable tennis the whole match, but in those few games she played unbelievable.
01:12 When she was serving for 5-2, I was telling myself that it's okay, we're going to play
01:20 the third set, that's fine. I just tried to put a little more pressure on her in this
01:25 set so she doesn't feel that much confidence going into the third set. I was just trying
01:36 my best. Like Kimi, I wanted that game somehow and turned around that second set.
01:46 You've been incredibly consistent over the last year, three semifinals and a win in Australia.
01:54 Was there a bit of it making up for what you missed out on last summer? The situation with
02:01 your control that meant you weren't able to play here?
02:05 I was really sad that I couldn't play here last year, but at the same time I was thinking
02:12 that it's a good time to reset and start everything over again. Before grass season I didn't play
02:23 my best tennis, I was struggling a lot with my serve, with emotions, with a lot of stuff.
02:30 I just took that time as a good preparation, as a good little switch, and everything started
02:38 working better. I think that in those three or four weeks I did really good work and it
02:48 helped me at the youth open. Then I started believing in myself more, I started playing
02:56 better, I started feeling better, I started feeling better emotionally. I think those
03:01 periods gave me so much belief in myself. I was very sad but at the same time I was like
03:11 "OK, probably this is something I really needed."
03:13 The match-up now is Hans-Jabour, maybe not the one you were anticipating. How do you
03:20 approach this?
03:21 We practiced here before Wimbledon and I felt like she's going to do well here because
03:29 she played unbelievable tennis on practice court. I know it's different on practice than
03:33 on match, but she was able to bring this level on matches. It's not like I didn't expect
03:40 that. She's a great player and we always had tough battles against each other, very
03:46 close matches. I'm really looking forward to this great battle.
03:51 What's the biggest motivation, what's most important for you? The chance now to get to
03:57 your first Wimbledon final or the chance to become world number one for the first time?
04:02 To be honest, I want both, but I'm trying to focus on myself because I know that if
04:10 I start thinking about all this stuff I'm going to lose my focus on court, my game.
04:16 So I'm trying to focus on myself right now and make sure that every time I'm on the
04:20 court I bring my best tennis. And then later on we'll see if I'm ready to become world
04:27 number one or if I'm ready to play another final.
04:31 Do you feel like you're playing the best player in the world at the moment?
04:35 I feel like I'm one of the best. There are other great players and it's not like I'm
04:44 the best right now. I feel like I'm one of the best.
04:47 On court you spoke of dreaming of Wimbledon since you were a little girl. What did you
04:54 visualise as a little girl about the championship and what's in your mind, what images are
05:00 in your mind about the possibility of winning the championship now?
05:04 I remember myself, I think, 14 or 15 years old, going on my practice with headphones,
05:11 listening to music and dreaming of becoming one of the best players in the world and dreaming
05:17 about lifting these beautiful trophies. That's something unbelievable and that's something
05:24 that really motivates me a lot, that I was able to become one of the best and I'm competing
05:30 on the high level. That's something big for me and I'm going to do everything I can
05:38 to lift this beautiful trophy.
05:41 What is most special about the Wimbledon championship for you?
05:49 I think historically this is just a special event. Even in the players' area everything
06:02 is a little bit different compared to the rest of the slams. Top players are able to
06:07 be separated in the separate locker rooms. It's special and if you win the Wimbledon
06:13 you get a membership here. I think it's more history behind the Wimbledon. That's
06:26 why it's very special.
06:29 Congratulations. Angela said on Centre Court a moment ago that she was disappointed you
06:37 won so quickly.
06:38 I saw that. I was in the locker room watching her interview, sending her kisses and love.
06:45 Do you think you have the advantage in the semi-final?
06:48 I think she was just joking. She's a very nice girl. She has such a good sense of humour.
06:54 I think it's not going to give me any advantage. Anyway, it's going to be a great battle,
06:59 tough match. It doesn't matter what she says. She's just a fun girl.
07:03 Any further questions?
07:06 You spoke earlier in the week about wanting some clarity from the organisations on handshakes
07:12 after matches. Have you heard anything else since then from any of the organisations here
07:17 or any of your fellow players? Is it something that's being discussed in the locker room?
07:20 Players understand everything. I saw a tweet yesterday. They made this statement which
07:30 is really good. I think people also need to know what's going on and why there is no handshake
07:37 between Ukrainians, Russians and Belarusian players. It's good to have this statement.
07:45 I really hope that nobody else will face this reaction from the crowd.
07:54 How would you describe the determination she shows on the court and what makes her game
08:01 special in your mind?
08:02 She has a really good touch, especially on the grass court. All her slices and drop shots
08:08 work really well here on the grass court. I feel like mentally she's really strong.
08:14 She's making history. I think this is the biggest motivation for her. That's why she's
08:24 doing well this season, especially here at Wimbledon. I think her tricky game is really
08:32 challenging to play against.