Wimbledon 2025 – Amanda Anisimova advances to championship final in gutsy performance
A gorgeous day in south-west London set the stage for the first of four semi-final clashes, with the sun beaming down on Centre Court’s elegance and butterflies fluttering across the grass ahead of a mighty duel between two big-hitters: Sabalenka and Anisimova.
The opening set saw two stoppages for medical emergencies in the crowd, due to the humid heat, with Sabalenka offering water bottles and ice packs from her own stash.
Of the eight break points created, it was the final one that proved decisive — a double fault from Sabalenka handing Anisimova the break and the set. For the second straight match, the world number one had to recover from a set down to stay in contention.
The 27-year-old returned from the changing room revitalised, and just as her own serve had previously been broken, an Anisimova double fault allowed Sabalenka to break and then hold for the first time during the afternoon. Though the American player was able to fend off four set points on her own serve, her opponent capitalised on serve to level the match.
Olympic champions Bryony Page (three-time trampoline medallist) and Jonathan Edwards (two-time triple jump medallist and world record holder) were in attendance, while football coach Emma Hayes, who led the US women’s national team to gold at Paris 2024, added to the Royal Box’s medal count.
After an early exchange of breaks in the deciding set, it was world number 12 Anisimova who stood resolute, securing a double break in an increasingly tense fight, letting out all her emotions with every strike and point won on Centre Court.
She only grew with motivation and firepower throughout the duel, yet when she had match point, Sabalenka refused to back down and broke for the first time in four service games, drawing a standing ovation from the SW19 crowd.
If the drama needed another twist, a long Sabalenka forehand offered Anisimova three more match points.
On the third of the trio—her fourth overall—the New Jersey native sealed the deal in emphatic fashion, turning to her box and freezing in pure disbelief at the sensation of becoming a Grand Slam finalist for the first time.