Amanda Anisimova Reaches Her First Grand Slam Final by Defeating World No. 1 Sabalenka at Wimbledon
World No. 12 Amanda Anisimova has reached her first-ever Grand Slam final at Wimbledon after a thrilling three-set victory over top seed Aryna Sabalenka, winning 6-4, 4-6, 6-4.
Playing with remarkable inspiration, Anisimova turned the script on its head at Wimbledon, showcasing extraordinary courage, mental resilience, and fearless shot-making to advance to the biggest match of her career.
With this victory, Anisimova now leads Sabalenka 6-3 in their head-to-head record. The win also keeps alive the possibility of a third American women’s Grand Slam champion this year—following Madison Keys’ win at the Australian Open and Coco Gauff’s triumph at the French Open.
"This moment feels truly unbelievable," said a thrilled Anisimova on court Thursday.
"Aryna is an incredible competitor, and I was honestly exhausted out there. I don’t even know how I pulled it off. She’s a huge inspiration for me and for so many others."
"We’ve had so many tough matches. To come out on top today and reach the Wimbledon final—it feels surreal. The crowd was amazing. Even though she’s the No. 1, a lot of people were cheering for me. I’m so grateful to everyone."
On Centre Court, which felt like an oven in the sweltering 30°C heat, Sabalenka twice assisted unwell spectators with water bottles and ice. But in the 10th game of the final set, under pressure, she finally cracked.
The 23-year-old Anisimova, who first reached a Grand Slam semifinal as a teenager at the 2019 French Open, made Sabalenka fight for every point. She won the first set as Sabalenka double-faulted on set point.
Sabalenka then bounced back with her signature aggression and leveled the match 1–1 by capitalizing on some unforced errors from Anisimova.
In the third set, both players exchanged breaks amid loud roars from the crowd. But at a critical moment, Sabalenka hit a shot long, and Anisimova seized the opportunity to close out the match. She will face either Iga Świątek or Belinda Bencic in the final.
Anisimova, who took a break from tennis in 2023 due to mental health issues, said it still feels unbelievable to reach the Wimbledon final.
"This whole year has been a new chapter for me. Coming back and standing here today wasn’t easy. So many people dream of playing on this court," she said.
"To be able to compete here and make it to the final—words can’t describe it."
Even after a grueling three-hour battle, Anisimova's mind was already on the upcoming semifinal between Świątek and Bencic, which would determine her opponent.
"It’s going to be a great match, and whoever wins, it’ll be a tough final. I’m just hoping to now spend a little time with my family," she added.
On the other side, a disappointed Aryna Sabalenka—who lost in the finals of both the Australian Open and French Open earlier this year—missed the chance to become the first woman since 2014–15 to reach four consecutive Grand Slam finals.
