London, July 8 -- World number one Aryna Sabalenka narrowly avoided a seismic shock as she fought back to beat veteran Laura Siegemund and claw her way into the Wimbledon semi-finals here
today.
The Belarusian, the heavy favourite for the title, had to twice come back from a break down in the deciding set to beat the 37-year-old German 4-6 6-2 6-4.
Sabalenka has reached the final of the past three majors and, with most of her rivals falling in the first week of SW19, she has an incredible chance of reaching Saturday's showpiece.
But few would have predicted the almighty scare that Siegemund - who had previously never gone beyond the second round in singles here - came within touching distance of completing.
Siegemund, more noted for her...