Aryna Sabalenka Reveals Biggest Wimbledon Change From Last Year That Helped Her Win First Round
World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka revealed that her return to full health and a renewed appreciation for Wimbledon’s atmosphere were the biggest changes from last year, propelling her to a 6-1, 7-5 victory over Canadian qualifier Carson Branstine in the first round on June 30, 2025, at No. 1 Court. In a post-match interview shared by *The Tennis Letter* (@TheTennisLetter, June 30, 2025), Sabalenka confessed, “I was really depressed last year that I couldn’t feel this atmosphere. I’m super happy to be back, to be healthy. To compete at this beautiful tournament.” This marked a stark contrast to 2024, when a shoulder injury forced her withdrawal before the tournament, preventing her from playing at SW19 for the first time since 2023, per *EssentiallySports*.[](https://www.essentiallysports.com/wta-tennis-news-aryna-sabalenka-reveals-biggest-wimbledon-change-from-last-year-that-helped-her-win-first-round/)
Sabalenka’s 2024 absence followed a challenging period, including a quarter-final loss to Mirra Andreeva at Roland Garros due to illness, which compounded her frustration, per *The Guardian*. This year, her physical recovery allowed her to embrace Wimbledon’s energy, with a packed stadium enhancing her performance. “If someone would’ve told me that one day, I’d play the first match at Wimbledon with a full crowded stadium, I wouldn’t believe it,” she said, per *EssentiallySports*. Her mental reset was equally critical, as she learned from her emotional outburst after losing the 2025 French Open final to Coco Gauff, where her 70 unforced errors and post-match comments sparked criticism. Sabalenka told *BBC Sport* on June 28, 2025, “I’m kind of glad what happened to me in Paris, because I was able to learn a lot,” emphasizing her focus on controlling emotions.[](https://www.bbc.com/sport/tennis/articles/cgrx50kqpr1o)
Against Branstine, Sabalenka showcased her powerful serve, hitting three aces and winning 78% of first-serve points, while converting three of five break points, per *Newsbytesapp.com*. Despite Branstine’s seven aces and a competitive second set, Sabalenka’s 66 points won and fewer unforced errors (18 vs. Branstine’s 26) secured her fourth second-round appearance at Wimbledon. This win marked her 50th WTA victory as world No. 1, per *Newsbytesapp.com*. Fans on X, like @JacobPacheco6, praised her “dominant” return, while Sabalenka expressed gratitude for the crowd’s energy, setting her sights on a potential final against Gauff to redeem her French Open loss, per *Outlook India*.[]
