American Amanda Anisimova upends top seed Aryna Sabalenka in dramatic three‑set Wimbledon semi-final

Amanda Anisimova has delivered one of Wimbledon’s most stunning upsets, defeating world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka in a high-intensity semi-final that ended 6‑4, 4‑6, 6‑4 on 10 July 2025, at Centre Court. With this victory, the 23-year-old American becomes the youngest U.S. woman to reach a Wimbledon singles final since Serena Williams in 2004.

Born in New Jersey to Russian immigrant parents, Anisimova transformed from a promising junior—winning the 2017 U.S. Open girls’ singles at age 16—to an elite professional with her breakthrough at the 2019 French Open semi-final. She climbed to a career-high WTA ranking of No. 12 on 30 June 2025, and is set to crack the Top 10 for the first time by mid‑July.

Her triumph over Sabalenka came under 30°C heat, in a match briefly paused after a spectator needed medical attention. Sabalenka even paused to assist before the match resumed after a ten-minute delay. The contest saw Anisimova rally from a second-set loss, regaining composure in the decider to seal the defining upset.

Anisimova’s resurgence follows a gruelling break from tennis in May 2023, when she stepped away due to severe burnout and mental health challenges. During her hiatus, she pursued art, university studies, and recovery away from the pressures of tour life. Since returning in early 2024, she clinched her first WTA 1000 title at the 2025 Qatar Open, reached a Queens Club final, and rebuilt herself into a consistent major contender.

Beyond tennis, Anisimova harbours plans to become a surgeon in the future, envisioning online medical studies post-retirement. She credits her renewed focus and mental reset for steering her back to elite form: “I feel like that [break] really served me… I finally found my game and my confidence.”

Standing in her way in the Wimbledon final, scheduled for 12 July, is the formidable Iga Świątek—the Polish world-class player who dispatched Belinda Bencic in the other semi-final. Anisimova now chases a historic milestone: she could become the first American Wimbledon singles champion since Serena in 2016, and further cement her place in tennis lore.

As Wimbledon builds toward its climax, Anisimova’s path from emotional shutdown to centre-stage glory serves as a remarkable testament to personal resilience, mental health advocacy, and competitive spirit. She now stands on the brink of her greatest achievement yet—her first Grand Slam title.