Can Amanda Anisimova Stun World No. 1 Sabalenka to Reach Her Maiden Wimbledon Final in 2025?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Amanda Anisimova reached her first Grand Slam final at Wimbledon 2025.
- She defeated World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka in a thrilling semifinal match.
- Anisimova’s victory marks her second Grand Slam semifinal appearance in six years.
- She is the first American woman to reach a Wimbledon final since Serena Williams.
- Her comeback story emphasizes the importance of mental health in sports.
London, July 10 (NationPress) Amanda Anisimova from the United States delivered a career-defining performance, defeating top seed Aryna Sabalenka with a score of 6-4, 4-6, 6-4 to secure her very first Grand Slam final spot at Wimbledon 2025 on Thursday.
The 23-year-old, who is seeded No. 13, demonstrated exceptional composure in a thrilling two-hour and 36-minute contest in the women's singles semifinals. This victory marked her sixth career win over a Top 5 player and her inaugural victory against the World No. 1.
With this achievement, Anisimova became the first American to reach the ladies' singles final since Serena Williams in 2019.
This triumph also improved Anisimova’s record against Sabalenka to 6-3, emphasizing her ability to perform under pressure in this escalating rivalry. Her reward is a coveted spot in the Wimbledon final, making her the first player born in the 21st century to accomplish this at SW19.
Fellow player born in the 2000s, Iga Świątek, has an opportunity to join her if she triumphs over Belinda Bencic in the second semifinal scheduled for later today.
Anisimova’s journey to this milestone has not been linear. As a teenage sensation, she reached the semifinals of the French Open at just 17 years old in 2019, but took a seven-month hiatus in 2023 to focus on her mental health. At this time last year, she was ranked No. 189 and failed to qualify for Wimbledon, having lost to Eva Lys in the qualifiers.
However, her comeback has been extraordinary. She climbed into the Top 20 with a runner-up finish at the WTA 1000 event in Toronto last August, followed by a groundbreaking WTA 1000 title in Doha earlier this year. With her Wimbledon success, Anisimova is now guaranteed a debut in the Top 10 when the new rankings are released next week.
This semifinal appearance signifies a long-awaited return to the forefront of major tournaments. The six-year and 34-day interval between her first and second Grand Slam semifinals is the fourth-longest in the Open Era, trailing only Mirjana Lucic-Baroni, Natasha Zvereva, and Lori McNeil. Notably, Bencic—who may be her final opponent—has an even longer gap of over five years between her major semifinal appearances.