Amanda Anisimova in shock after reaching Wimbledon final, Aryna Sabalenka left 'p*****' off
Updated 10/07/2025 at 19:41 GMT+1
Amanda Anisimova reached the Wimbledon 2025 final after an impressive win over Aryna Sabalenka on Centre Court. Temperatures reached as high as 29°C on a scorching day in SW19, but that could not stop the 23-year-old as she overcame a defiant display from the world No. 1. Anisimova can now look ahead to a clash with either Iga Swiatek or Belinda Bencic.
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Amanda Anisimova insisted she never would have dreamed of reaching the final of Wimbledon so soon after returning from an indefinite break from tennis.
Anisimova stepped away from the sport to focus on her mental health in May 2023, before returning to the court at the 2024 Auckland Open.
The world No. 12 capped her remarkable comeback by defeating world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka 6-4 4-6 6-4 to become the first American to reach the women's singles final of Wimbledon since Serena Williams in 2019.
Anisimova will now face Iga Swiatek following her win over Belinda Bencic, and she was stunned to be on the verge of a first career Grand Slam so soon after her return.
"To be honest, if you had told me that I would be in the final of Wimbledon [so soon after returning] I would not have believed you," she told the BBC.
"At least not this soon because it has been a year turnaround since coming back.
"To be in this spot, it is not easy, and so many people dream of competing on this incredible court.
"To be in the final is just indescribable."
A tense start to the match on Centre Court saw the two competitors trade the first eight games of the opening set.
Anisimova turned up the pressure with another hold in the ninth game, setting the stage for a crucial moment in the match.
It came when Sabalenka made the first significant error of the contest, a double fault that handed the opening set to her 23-year-old opponent.
However, that only appeared to spark Sabalenka into life.
After a closely fought start to the second set, Anisimova produced a double fault of her own to give Sabalenka a 4-3 lead.
The three-time Grand Slam champion then held serve to level things up at 1-1 and send the match to a third set.
After two closely fought sets, there was an explosive start to the third.
Sabalenka had the momentum after a superb showing in the second set, and she came out of the blocks firing, breaking her opponent in the first game.
However, Anisimova showed immense heart to break back at the first time of asking.
Anisimova did not stop there. After holding to take a 2-1 lead, she forced her second break of the set to move within a whisker of her first Wimbledon final.
She continued to hold her nerve under immense pressure as Sabalenka desperately tried to salvage her hopes of winning a fourth Grand Slam.
She had two chances to break back with the score at 3-1, but she could not capitalise, and Anisimova moved one step closer to the final.
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Anisimova failed to capitalise on a match point with the score at 5-3 as Sabalenka showed her class to keep the contest alive.
However, Anisimova responded in style, producing another break to wrap up the win, which she sealed with a glorious cross-court forehand.
Sabalenka frustrated by Anisimova's conduct
Sabalenka revealed that she was "p*****" by Anisimova's conduct during her post-match press conference.
The Belarusian was particularly annoyed by the American's decision to celebrate before the ball had passed her during the second set.
Sabalenka was competing in her third Wimbledon semi-final, but she is yet to progress past that stage of the tournament.
She insists that Anisimova's behaviour inspired her to keep fighting as she fell to defeat.
"Yeah, I was just trying to chase the ball," she said. "Yeah, she was already celebrating it.
"I was, like, I mean, that's a bit too early.
"Then she kind of p***** me off saying that, oh, that's what she does all the time.
"I was grateful that she actually said that because I was, like, it helped me to keep fighting.
"I'm like, okay, now I'm going to show you the tennis.
"So I came back because I got really angry in that moment.
"So probably in the third set I should have, like, remembered, and you know, probably will help. It is what it is."
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