Another record falls, as Djokovic survives scare

Sabalenka out

World No 1 Aryna Sabalenka said she felt like drowning her sorrows after her wait for a Wimbledon title was extended for at least another year following her loss to an inspired Naomi Osaka in the fourth round on Sunday.

The blockbuster clash between two players with four Grand Slam titles each failed to live up to expectations, as 14th-seeded Osaka blazed to a 6-2 7-6(2) victory on Centre Court.

Sabalenka was continually knocked off balance by the depth and pace of Osaka's shots, and, despite digging deep in the second set, she never really looked in control.

At one point in the first set she screamed in frustration, while early in the second she banged her racket against her head repeatedly.

After losing match point, the 28-year-old launched a ball high out of the court before heading almost immediately to her news conference.

One year after losing to Amanda Anisimova in the semifinal — her third successive loss at that stage of Wimbledon — and saying she had a "more of a hate relationship" with grass-court major, Sabalenka was asked how she felt about her latest exit at the All England Club.

"No emotions. I just know that I can handle myself much better than last year," she told reporters.

"Obviously, guys, if you were expecting something really fun, not going to happen. It's probably just going to be short answers.

"I f****d it up this year. Next year I'll try to do better.

"I just think, to be honest, I feel like my level was really low today, plus she was feeling her best. With every game we would play, I would feel worse, she would feel better."

Sabalenka lost the Australian Open final this year, and, after losing in the quarterfinals at the French Open, where she crumbled in the final set against Diana Shnaider, she said she felt like quitting tennis and was in a dark hole.

The Belarusian will remain as world No 1 after Wimbledon, but she said that did not interest her.

"Oh, this question, guys. I mean, let's just look at the ranking. Right now, I'm world No 1. Level-wise, today, I wasn't world No 1. Yesterday, I was world No 1," she said.

"I feel like I just don't even want to think about rankings at this point.

"I just want to go, get completely drunk, forget about tennis, and try to get in better shape."

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