Aryna Sabalenka continued to demonstrate her dominance in tie-break situations as she advanced to the next round of Wimbledon, overcoming a resilient challenge from American player McCartney Kessler. The world No. 1 secured a 6-1, 7-6 victory on Wednesday, with the second set decided in a closely contested tie-break that ended 11-9 in Sabalenka’s favor.

Sabalenka, who is pursuing her first Wimbledon title, started the match strongly, taking the first set decisively against Kessler, the 57th-ranked player. However, Kessler mounted a comeback in the second set, forcing the Belarusian into a tense tie-break. Sabalenka’s consistency in these high-pressure moments has been notable; she has not lost a tie-break at Wimbledon since 2017, underscoring her ability to perform under pressure.

Reflecting on the match, Sabalenka described the encounter as a hard-fought battle and rated her performance nine out of ten. “That was a true battle,” she said, acknowledging the difficulty of the contest and expressing satisfaction with her resilience and eventual triumph.

The victory keeps Sabalenka on course in her quest for a maiden Wimbledon crown, reinforcing her status as a leading contender in the tournament. Meanwhile, Kessler’s competitive showing against a top-seeded player offers a promising indication of her potential on the grand stage.