Resilience on the Court
In a remarkable display of resilience, Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova fought through a significant technical issue with the Hawk-Eye system to claim victory over local favorite Sonay Kartal, winning in straight sets 7-6 (3), 6-4 on Sunday. This win marks her return to the Wimbledon quarterfinals for the first time since 2016, when she was ousted by Serena Williams, the eventual champion.
A Historic Achievement
Pavlyuchenkova has now achieved the rare feat of competing in quarterfinal matches at Wimbledon nearly a decade apart—her two appearances are tied for the second longest gap in the Open era, surpassed only by Svetlana Kuznetsova, who had a ten-year hiatus from 2007 to 2017.
Overcoming Challenges
The 34-year-old Russian expressed pride in her performance amidst the challenges, stating,
“I always thought I wasn’t good enough on grass, so this is incredible for me. As I get older, I’m impressed and proud to compete with the younger girls.”
During the match, adverse conditions forced the closure of the Centre Court roof, and a malfunction in the automated line-calling system added to the drama. In a pivotal moment while the score was tied at 4-4 in the first set, an apparent long shot from Kartal was not flagged by the technology. However, video evidence later confirmed it was out, leading to an agitated Pavlyuchenkova vocalizing her frustration.
“You took the game away from me. They stole the game from me,”
she was heard saying to the umpire, highlighting her dissatisfaction over the technical mishap and its impact on the match.
Mental Fortitude
Despite this interference, Pavlyuchenkova demonstrated her mental fortitude by saving a set point when Kartal was serving at 5-4. She then gained momentum by winning 15 of the last 23 points to clinch the first set. Reflecting on her growth as a player, she remarked,
“My mental toughness is getting better. I used to be a little bit crazy in my head! But now I am learning to fight point by point.”
Looking Ahead
As Pavlyuchenkova advances, she joins a Sunday lineup of other highly anticipated fourth-round matches, including top-seed Aryna Sabalenka against Elise Mertens, Amanda Anisimova facing off against Linda Noskova, and lucky loser Solana Sierra competing with Laura Siegemund.
With this victory, Pavlyuchenkova has reestablished herself as a formidable contender in women’s tennis, showcasing her journey of perseverance on a grand stage like Wimbledon.
