The wonderfully weird world of Siegemund

With a giggle, Aryna Sabalenka said, "there is going to be less slices from (Amanda Anisimova).

- Shahid Judge

With a giggle, Aryna Sabalenka said, “there is going to be less slices from (Amanda Anisimova).

The question in the post-match press conference was about the prospect of playing the hard-hitting baseliner in the Wimbledon semifinal. It was one of the few inquiries that did not touch upon the struggle the top seed faced when she beat unfancied world No.104 Laura Siegemund a few hours earlier.

But in mentioning the “slices”, Sabalenka alluded to a fact she had not tried to hide. That she had been pushed to the brink by the 37-year-old German.

The match-up on Tuesday was between two players with vastly contrasting styles.

Sabalenka, a three-time Grand Slam champion, has a simple mantra — see ball, hit ball, and hit very, very hard.