Sabalenka vs Anisimova: Epic Duel at Wimbledon. Will the #1 be defeated?

Anisimova vs. Sabalenka: Wimbledon Semifinal Promises Clash of Titans

Wimbledon, England – Amanda Anisimova, after six long years and a break dedicated to her mental health, has managed to advance to her first Grand Slam final. After a hard-fought victory over Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova with scores of 6-1 and 7-6 (9), the 23-year-old American tennis player did not hide her enthusiasm.

I feel like everything has been coming together for me, and I’ve felt more and more confident with each tournament I’ve played this year. So I feel like my confidence is pretty high. Besides that, I’m enjoying every moment.

Amanda Anisimova

Anisimova’s victory contrasts with that of her next opponent in the semifinals, Aryna Sabalenka, who defeated Laura Siegemund in a three-set match. Sabalenka, the tournament’s seed, has reached the semifinals in four consecutive Majors and has advanced to this round in 10 of her last 11 Grand Slam tournaments. The match between Anisimova and Sabalenka is shaping up to be an epic duel between two high-level players. Below, we analyze the key points of this anticipated semifinal.

Meeting Between Well-Known Rivals

Despite the three Grand Slam titles and Sabalenka’s dominance, it is Anisimova who leads the head-to-head record. In eight matches, Anisimova has won five times, including the first two encounters in Majors. Since the beginning of the 2024 season, Sabalenka has been victorious in two out of three matches, the most recent at the French Open last month. Three of their matches have been decided in a decisive set, and both players agree that it will be a “tough” match.

Sabalenka anticipates “very aggressive tennis”, while Anisimova is excited about the opportunity to face the world number one in a Wimbledon semi-final. I know she’s going to play incredible tennis. There’s no one better to play against than her. I’m really looking forward to the experience. I’m going to play against the number one in a Wimbledon semi-final, so it’s going to be very special. During their encounter in Paris, Sabalenka prevailed, but Anisimova demonstrated her worth on clay. Although Sabalenka won the first set, Anisimova raised her level, but Sabalenka ultimately took the victory. The grass surface could pose a different challenge, according to Sabalenka. Sabalenka’s consistency is undeniable, with an impressive record in Grand Slams and seven titles since 2024. However, Wimbledon is the only Major where she has not yet reached the final, which adds an extra element of motivation. Emma Raducanu praised Sabalenka, highlighting her position in the world ranking.

Anisimova’s Resurgence

Anisimova’s career has been marked by ups and downs. After a distinguished junior career, she won her first WTA title and reached the semi-finals at Roland Garros in 2019. In 2023, she announced an indefinite break due to mental health issues. After months of absence, Anisimova returned, reaching the fourth round of the Australian Open. This season, she has regained her best form, winning the title at the Qatar Open and reaching the final at Queen’s Club. Following her quarter-final victory, Anisimova will enter the top 10 next week. If she defeats Sabalenka and advances to the final, she could rise to number 7, and even number 5 if she wins the title.

Possible Finalists

In the quarterfinals, Iga Swiatek defeated Liudmila Samsonova, and Belinda Bencic overcame Mirra Andreeva. A final between Sabalenka and Swiatek, two of the best players of recent years, would be a memorable event. Also, a final between Anisimova and Bencic could be fascinating. What is certain is that we will have a new Wimbledon champion on Saturday.