World number one Aryna Sabalenka marched into the Wimbledon quarterfinals on Sunday as her former doubles partner Elise Mertens fell short of upsetting the US Open champion. Sabalenka has never

By Shrivathsa Sridhar LONDON (Reuters) -Aryna Sabalenka maintained her stranglehold over Belgian Elise Mertens with a hard-fought 6-4 7-6(4) victory on Sunday to reach the Wimbledon quarter-finals as she bids for a maiden title at the grasscourt Grand Slam.

Aryna Sabalenka started the match on a high note, breaking Elise Mertens to register a 4-1 lead in the first set. However, Mertens bounced back, breaking Sabalenka’s serve by moving her around the court and disrupting her rhythm. However, Sabalenka broke again to clinch the opening set 6-4.