Sorry, not sorry.
The final stretch of Amanda Anisimova’s upset of top seed Arynba Sabalenka in the Wimbledon semifinals came with a touch of drama.
After Anisimova secured a 5-2 lead in the third set with a forehand that grazed the net and went over, Sabalenka seemed to question her opponent.
“Why didn’t you say sorry?” Sabalenka appeared to ask Anisimova after the two crossed paths on the changeover.
Players often — though not always — gesture with a raised hand to apologize if they benefit from a lucky shot that bounces over the net after hitting it.
However, it is rare that it becomes an issue between two opponents.
Sabalenka took next two games to put pressure on the American, but Anisimova broke Sabalenka once more to close out the 6-4, 4-6, 6-4 victory.
The ESPN broadcast highlighted the exchange.
“I don’t know if that’s anything more than gamesmanship right there,” play-by-play man Chris Fowler said.
“I’ve never heard a player question that … not everyone says sorry… She’s not a happy camper right now,” analyst and three-time champ Chris Evert said.
The two shared a pleasant exchange at the net afterward and the moment did not distract from the biggest moment of Anisimova’s career. The New Jersey native is now in her first Grand Slam final.
Anisimova went shot for shot with the hard-hitting Sabalenka, who has risen to No. 1 in the world with three Grand Slam titles in 2023 and 2024.
However, Sabalenka is now 0-for-3 in slams this year after losing in the finals of the Australian and French Open.
Sabalenka was also accused of poor sportsmanship after losing to Coco Gauff in the French final, when some felt she did not give the newly crowned clay champ enough credit.
“I think she won the match not because she played incredible; just because I made all of those mistakes,” Sabalenka said after making 70 unforced errors in her loss to Gauff.
Sabalenka later apologized and called her comments “completely unprofessional.”
The two appeared in a TikTok together at the start of Wimbledon to officially bury any bad feelings.
Anisimova will play Iga Swiatek, who dismantled Belinda Bencic in the other semifinal, in the championship match on Saturday.
