Aryna Sabalenka has been compared to Novak Djokovic in one key area after her triumphant third-round win at Wimbledon over Emma Raducanu.
The Belarusian went into yesterday’s clash as the overwhelming favourite, but there was cautious optimism that the British number one might be a threat, given her grass-court pedigree.
This notion became dangerously apparent as soon as the game began, with Emma Raducanu impressing and even earning the opportunity to serve for the first set.
However, as all the very best players do, Sabalenka managed to turn things around, and has been lauded for her unflinching mentality.
Aryna Sabalenka compared to Novak Djokovic after win over Emma Raducanu
Speaking on The Tennis Podcast, it was Catherine Whitaker who led the adulation.
She noted just how impressive it was for Aryna Sabalenka to soak up all the pressure of the home crowd and still win, noting: ‘She had a horrible time tonight. She hated it. She absolutely hated it, and there were moments in that match where she looked like she wanted to get on the plane home.
‘And we have seen her… not quite check out of matches and certainly not at Grand Slams. I think of the Mirra Andreeva final at Indian Wells. Sometimes you do just get a vibe from Sabalenka where it’s like, not this, not this. And there were a few moments where I thought, is she entering that zone? Where she wants to head back to Mykonos?
‘But no, she just kept wading through the mud of it all, and… she’s made of strong stuff, isn’t she?’
It was then David Law who made a legendary comparison, citing Novak Djokovic: ‘It was a bit Djokovic-like in some ways. Just take it and then give it back, and then some, and come out on top. I mean endless respect for that.’
Just before this claim, they told Raducanu what she needs to add to her game to bridge the gap between herself and those elite players.
Aryna Sabalenka is the overwhelming favourite to win the Wimbledon title now
There were worries when the draw first emerged for Sabalenka, given how many top players were thrown around her section.
And then, once the seeds started falling, it really felt like she could be in danger of becoming one of these high-profile upsets.
But, having bypassed her opening three rounds with caution, now the Belarusian can start stretching her legs and gathering steam ahead of the finals.
Next up for her is Elise Mertens, whom Sabalenka has beaten nine times in a row and not lost to since 2018.
Having already been the favourite before Wimbledon began, her progression through a tricky start to her draw, plus the plethora of challengers that have fallen in the early rounds, will have cemented her spot as the overwhelming favourite to go on and claim this title.
