Wimbledon 2025 | Anisimova pulls off a coup against Sabalenka; Swiatek brooks no resistance from Bencic

It was at the 2019 French Open that Amanda Anisimova first gave a glimpse of her elite potential. As a 17-year-old, she beat defending champion Simona Halep in the quarters, then fought eventual winner Ash Barty over three pulsating sets before finishing as one of the youngest semifinalists in Roland-Garros history.

Six long years since that breakthrough moment, Anisimova, who has encountered personal tragedy in the form of her father’s untimely death, multiple injuries and burnout, went one step further to reach the coveted Wimbledon final with a 6-4, 4-6, 6-4 victory over World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka on Thursday.

Under baking-hot conditions on Centre Court, where more than one fan needed help and players themselves wrapped iced towels around their necks at every changeover, Anisimova stayed calm to edge the 2-hour, 37-minute slugfest.

In Saturday’s summit clash, she will meet five-time Major titlist Iga Swiatek, who routed Switzerland’s Belinda Bencic 6-2, 6-0.

Iga Swiatek blew away Belinda Bencic’s challenge to reach her first Wimbledon final.
| Photo Credit:
AP

Anisimova, who returned to the Tour fully just over a year ago after recovering from mental health issues and physical frailties, is now the first American women’s singles finalist at the All England Club since Serena Williams in 2019. The feat will also ensure a top-10 debut next week.

“It doesn’t feel real.” the 23-year-old said. “If anyone had told me that I would be in the Wimbledon final, I would not have believed it. At least, not this soon. It has just been a year since returning. But it is a privilege and it is indescribable.”

So was the match. It was up and down – like many Sabalenka fixtures of late – and there was never a phase wherein either player looked completely dialled in. The Anisimova serve first came under pressure in the seventh game, but she warded off four break-points to hold, with a searing double-fisted down-the-line backhand erasing one of those. That appeared to charge the American up, and Sabalenka shrunk at 4-5, landing a double-fault on set-point.

In the second, Sabalenka again made the play in the middle of the set. This time, not only did she break but also consolidated to 5-3 from 0-30 down by putting together an effective array of strokes – a crunching forehand winner, an immaculate drop and an ace. A gutsy hold to 6-4 levelled matters.

When the Belarusian broke to open the third set, she seemed to have a clear shot at victory. Anisimova, though, hit back and quickly led 4-1, playing some remarkable first-strike tennis. Like Sabalenka’s, it was powerful, but more easy on the eye. The iron-fist-in-a-velvet-glove approach soon helped her hold to 5-2 from 15-30 down.

However, serving at 5-3, Anisimova fluffed her first match-point with a backhand error and saw her opponent get back on even terms. But with Sabalenka serving to stay in the contest, Anisimova relaxed and tried to marry her aggression with some precision.

She missed two more chances to close but executed a perfect whipped forehand winner into the corner to hand Sabalenka her third straight defeat at the hands of an American at a Slam.