LONDON (AP) — In a remarkable comeback journey, Anisimova beats Sabalenka, Amanda Anisimova has reached her first-ever Grand Slam final, defeating world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka in a thrilling three-set semifinal at Wimbledon. Anisimova claimed the victory 6-4, 4-6, 6-4 on a sweltering Thursday at Centre Court and will now face five-time major champion Iga Swiatek in Saturday’s final.
Just over two years ago, Anisimova stepped away from tennis due to mental health struggles and burnout. A year ago, ranked outside the top 180, she had to fight her way through Wimbledon qualifiers. Today, she’s one win away from becoming a Wimbledon champion.
“This doesn’t feel real right now,” the 23-year-old said after her emotional win. “I was absolutely dying out there. I don’t know how I pulled it out.”
Facing Sabalenka — one of the most powerful players on the WTA Tour — Anisimova saved 11 of 14 break points and finished the match with a clean forehand winner on her fourth match point. The two-hour, 36-minute battle was a showcase of aggressive, high-stakes tennis. Nearly 80% of rallies ended within five shots, as both players unleashed booming serves and powerful groundstrokes under intense heat, which hit 88°F (31°C).
Anisimova, seeded No. 13 and set to break into the world’s top 10 next week, had previously reached one Grand Slam semifinal — at the 2019 French Open at just 17 years old. Saturday’s final marks a major breakthrough for the American, who grew up in Florida and was born in New Jersey.
On the other side of the draw, Swiatek dismantled Belinda Bencic in just 71 minutes, 6-2, 6-0, in a match that showcased her continued growth on grass. The Polish star, who had never reached a Wimbledon final before, served up to 119 mph and hit 26 winners to only 13 unforced errors.
“Tennis keeps surprising me,” Swiatek said afterward. “I thought I had experienced everything, but I hadn’t played well on grass — until now.”
A win at Wimbledon would give Swiatek her sixth Grand Slam title, but her first on grass. She’s currently 5-0 in major finals.
Sabalenka, meanwhile, was denied her chance to make history as the first woman since Serena Williams to reach four consecutive Grand Slam finals. Despite strong efforts, she couldn’t withstand Anisimova’s resilience and precision in the final set. “She was the better player,” Sabalenka admitted. “Losing sucks, you know? You feel like you don’t want to exist anymore.”
The final will determine the eighth consecutive first-time Wimbledon women’s champion — a testament to the ever-evolving competitive landscape in women’s tennis.
As Anisimova put it: “If you told me I’d be in the Wimbledon final, I wouldn’t believe you. It’s been a year of rebuilding, and now, to be here… it’s indescribable.”
