Anisimova’s previous best run at a Grand Slam was reaching the French Open semi-finals in 2019
Wimbledon 2025
Dates: 30 June-13 July Venue: All England Club
Coverage: Live across BBC TV, radio and online with extensive coverage on BBC iPlayer, Red Button, Connected TVs and mobile app. Full coverage guide.
Amanda Anisimova has inflicted another Grand Slam defeat on world number one Aryna Sabalenka, securing her place in the Wimbledon final after a captivating match.
The 13th-seeded American, Anisimova, expressed her gratitude to the crowd with waves and gestures after clinching a remarkable 6-4, 4-6, 6-4 victory on a scorching Centre Court.
The 23-year-old demonstrated resilience by saving 11 of the 14 break points she faced, ultimately securing her spot in her first Grand Slam final after an arduous two-hour and 35-minute battle, converting her fourth match point.
“This doesn’t feel real, I was absolutely dying out there,” she said.
“I don’t know how I pulled it out. To come out on top today and be in the final of Wimbledon is so incredibly special.”
Sabalenka has now experienced two major final defeats this year, having lost to Madison Keys in Australia and Coco Gauff in Paris.
Despite participating in the last three Grand Slam finals, she will not be contending in Saturday’s showpiece event.
Anisimova will now await the outcome of Thursday’s second semi-final, which features a contest between five-time Grand Slam champion Iga Swiatek and former Olympic champion Belinda Bencic.
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Anisimova was once touted as a future Grand Slam champion during her teenage years.
At 17, she reached the semi-finals of the 2019 French Open, notably defeating defending champion Simona Halep and Sabalenka along the way.
However, four years later, Anisimova took a hiatus from the sport for approximately seven months to focus on her mental health.
The Wimbledon final was likely not on her radar. At least not yet.
A run to the final of Queen’s, where she lost to Tatjana Maria, set her up well for a good run at the All England Club but few would have betted against the power, and experience at this point in a major, of Sabalenka.
But against Anisimova, it quickly became apparent that simply overpowering her opponent – as she has done so effectively countless times before – was not going to work.
Anisimova moved well, anticipated well and, crucially, returned superbly.
The two could barely be separated until an intense game at 5-4 on Sabalenka’s serve featuring six deuces was gifted to Anisimova after an untimely double fault from the three-time major champion.
The heat played its part in a dramatic encounter and Sabalenka twice handed out water bottles and ice packs to spectators who had fallen ill.
After more exhausting tennis in the second set, it was again a double fault that swung the momentum as Sabalenka broke at 3-3, having coaxed Anisimova into a couple of mistakes.
Set points swiftly followed but it was never going to be straightforward and Anisimova hung on in a tough service game to save four and force Sabalenka to serve it out.
An immediate break of serve in the third set teed up the potential for Sabalenka to assert some dominance but a scruffy service game followed and Anisimova won the next four games to take a decisive lead.
She held two match points at 5-4 in her quarter-final match before finding herself in a tie-break and there was a glimmer of those nerves again as Sabalenka earned three break points while Anisimova served for the match.
But grit and determination powered Anisimova through and she recovered to take the match at the third opportunity.
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