Aryna Sabalenka reveals what a child spectator said to leave her stunned at Wimbledon

Aryna Sabalenka was shocked to hear a child swear at her as she signed autographs after completing a win at Wimbledon.

The world No.1 dispatched qualifier Carson Branstine 6-1, 7-5 to move into the second round in scorching temperatures in south west London.

Sabalenka missed last year's tournament with a shoulder injury but showed why she’s the favourite in 2025 against her Canadian opponent. The world No.194 tested the Belarusian with a powerful serve before succumbing to a valiant defeat.

It was while signing autographs afterwards that Sabalenka heard something she wasn’t expecting. She was heard saying: “You shouldn't be saying that...you're just a young kid” and later explained what had happened.

Speaking in her press conference, she said: “Yeah, he was talking Brazilian Portuguese, a little cursing stuff because of the video of me cursing in the practice [that] went viral in Brazil. I replied, ‘You shouldn't be saying that.’ Yeah, it was a fun moment.”

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It was a bizarre moment at the end of an otherwise routine victory for Sabalenka, who lost the French Open final to Coco Gauff earlier in June. “I think the goal is to win as quickly, as easier as possible, so physically you're more fresh in the next rounds,” she said.

“But I think it was really good for me to have this little fight in the second set just to, like, see where my level is at, if I'm mentally ready to fight. I think I'm ready. So I think at the end it was good to have this little fight in the second set.”

Branstine works as a model to fund her tennis career and managed to impress Sabalenka with her powerful ball-striking. But ultimately she couldn’t keep up with the world No.1.

“I think if she continues working, she definitely has potential,” Sabalenka said. “Very big serving. Honestly in the second set, it was really tough to read her serve. The speed was unbelievable. Yeah, lucky me, I could break her and finish the set. But yeah, it was tough second set.

Branstine said: “When it mattered, she showed up. I could have gotten an early break in the second set. I had a break point and then after that, she was on it.

"Those are the little things that separate the Top 10 from the Top 20, and the Top 20 from the Top 50. Those little details that they take care of so unbelievably well.

“She has a fighting spirit, and even though I’m ranked No.194 in the world, she went out there in kill mode. She wants to win this tournament, that’s her goal.

"It was a really cool thing to actually see it in front of my eyes. I was like, 'Wow she’s doing that – and it’s to me, right now.'"