Amanda Anisimova Stuns Aryna Sabalenka to Reach Wimbledon Final
Amanda Anisimova, once sidelined by burnout, has made a remarkable return to tennis. Just a year ago, she was unable to qualify for Wimbledon, but on Thursday, she stunned the tennis world by defeating top-seeded Aryna Sabalenka 6-4, 4-6, 6-4 in a gripping semifinal match at Centre Court.
The 13th seed, who hails from New Jersey and grew up in Florida, showcased her resilience and skill in her second major semifinal appearance, having previously reached this stage at the 2019 French Open at just 17 years old.
"This doesn't feel real right now," Anisimova remarked after sealing her victory with a forehand winner on her fourth match point. "I was absolutely dying out there. I don't know how I pulled it out," she added, reflecting on the intensity of the 2-hour, 36-minute battle.
Next up for Anisimova is a showdown against either Iga Swiatek or Belinda Bencic for the championship title. The winner will become the eighth consecutive first-time women's champion at Wimbledon.
In May 2023, Anisimova took a break from the tour, citing struggles with her mental health. Now at 23, she has returned to form, displaying powerful groundstrokes and a backhand that rivals the best in the game. Regardless of the outcome in the final, she is set to break into the WTA top 10 rankings for the first time next week.
"To be honest, if you told me I would be in the final of Wimbledon, I would not believe you," she laughed. "At least not this soon. It's been such a privilege to compete here, and to be in the final is just indescribable."
For Sabalenka, this loss marks a missed opportunity to become the first woman since Serena Williams to reach four consecutive Grand Slam finals. After missing Wimbledon last year due to injury, she had claimed the US Open title in September and was a finalist at both the Australian Open and French Open earlier this year.
Despite her defeat, Sabalenka's competitive spirit shone through. "I mean, she's such an incredible competitor," Anisimova said of her opponent. "She's an inspiration to me and, I'm sure, so many other people."
The match featured two of the hardest hitters in women's tennis, with both players exchanging powerful serves—Sabalenka clocking in at 120 mph and Anisimova at 112 mph. The average rally lasted just three shots, with 167 of the 214 total points concluding in under five strokes.
As temperatures soared to 88 degrees Fahrenheit (31 degrees Celsius), the match faced delays due to spectator discomfort. Sabalenka offered water and ice packs during changeovers while Anisimova kept cool with an ice-filled towel draped around her neck.
In a tense moment during the second set, Sabalenka let out a loud shout after Anisimova's noise during a rally. The Belarusian leveled the match by closing the second set with a powerful service winner but faced immediate pressure as Anisimova broke back early in the third set.
With a commanding lead of 5-2, Anisimova faced some tension as she missed her first match point but quickly regained focus to secure her victory. Overwhelmed with emotion, she covered her mouth with her right hand as the reality of her achievement sank in.
