Sabalenka qualifies for Wimbledon quarter-finals

World number one Aryna Sabalenka overcame a battling Elise Mertens to reach the quarter-finals and stay on course for a first Wimbledon title

The 27-year-old, who reached the semi-finals in 2021 and 2023, won 6-4 7-6 (7-4) and will next face world number 104 Laura Siegemund for a place in the last four.

This has been a tournament in which many seeds have tumbled and Sabalenka was the only top six seed remaining in the women's draw.

It hasn't been plain sailing for Sabalenka as she came through a tough match against British number one Emma Raducanu to set up her meeting with Mertens.

This again was perhaps tougher than expected, particularly as Sabalenka had beaten 24th seed Mertens nine times in a row prior to meeting at Wimbledon.

It did initially look like being a comfortable win for Sabalenka as she got an early break on her way to racing into a 4-1 lead, but Mertens got a break back as she started to move her opponent around the court more.

Sabalenka broke Mertens again to take the opening set - but the Belgian continued to cause problems with her aggressive tennis.

She was rewarded for her brave play when she got her first break of the match early in the second set, taking advantage as Sabalenka struggled to get her first serve working before thumping down a backhand winner, and then holding to lead 3-1.

Sabalenka broke back two games later but Mertens was undeterred, the two going toe-to-toe all the way to a tie-break.

But there Sabalenka showed her quality, fighting back from 2-0 down to win and progress.