Wimbledon favourite Aryna Sabalenka booed after angry outburst on Centre Court

Aryna Sabalenka was booed by the Wimbledon crowd after losing her temper and smashing the net during her quarter-final against Laura Siegemund.

Sabalenka was the firm favourite to reach the semi-finals of a Grand Slam she is yet to win but was frustrated by 37-year-old veteran Siegemund.

It was the unseeded German, currently ranked No. 107 in the world, who took the first set 6-3 after getting a double break on the big-serving Sabelanka.

The world number one forced a third and final set by claiming the second 6-2 but continued to find Siegemund a tricky customer.

Siegemund clinched an early break in the deciding set and Sabalenka let her emotions get the better of her after failing to break back midway through the set.

After guiding a forehand wide, the 27-year-old smashed the net with her racket, leading to loud boos around Centre Court.

‘Sabalenka is entering into dangerous territory now,’ former British number one Annabel Croft said on BBC Radio 5 Live.

‘In the past when she has been up against the wall, she is usually like Serena [Williams] where she galvanises and brings it all together. I am not totally convinced that is going to happen in this match.’

It was not the only angry outburst from Sabalenka, who threatened to smash several balls into the crowd after being broken before finding her composure just in time.

Sabalenka was frustrated not only by Siegemund’s superb tennis but also the German’s antics as a notoriously slow player.

She received a time violation from the umpire during the third set which former British number one Sam Smith admitted ‘had been coming’.

‘The umpire has been very generous out here,’ she said. ‘He is hugely experienced and he had been letting it go.

‘It is not the first time Siegemund has had a time violation at this year’s championships.’

More to follow…