American tennis sensation Amanda Anisimova is currently making headlines with her impressive run at Wimbledon, reaching the semifinals for the first time in her career. This deep run marks a significant milestone in a journey characterized by resilience, a return from a mental health break, and a resurgence of her formidable talent. As of July 10, 2025, Anisimova is battling world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka in a highly anticipated semifinal clash, having already secured the first set.
A Triumphant Return from Break
Anisimova’s path to the top tier of women’s tennis has been anything but straightforward. After a stellar junior career, which included winning the 2017 US Open girls’ singles title by defeating fellow American Coco Gauff, she quickly rose through the professional ranks. Her early career highlights included reaching her first WTA Tour final in Hiroshima in 2018 and winning her maiden WTA title at the Copa Colsanitas in Bogotá in April 2019. That same year, at just 17, she became the youngest semifinalist at the French Open since 2006, notably upsetting defending champion and world No. 3 Simona Halep (WTA Tennis).
However, the sport took a toll. In May 2023, Anisimova announced an indefinite break from tennis, citing mental health concerns and burnout that had affected her since mid-2022. She described finding it “unbearable being at tennis tournaments” and prioritized her well-being (ESPN). Her return in 2024 marked the beginning of a remarkable comeback. She reached the fourth round of the Australian Open and, later in the year, made her first career WTA 1000 final at the Canadian Open in Toronto, becoming the lowest-ranked women’s singles finalist at the tournament in 40 years (Wikipedia).
2025: A Season of Milestones
The 2025 season has seen Anisimova truly hit her stride. She captured her first WTA 1000 title at the Qatar Ladies Open, defeating Jelena Ostapenko in straight sets. This victory propelled her into the Top 20, reaching world No. 18 on February 17, 2025 (Wikipedia). Her strong form continued, reaching the semifinals at the Charleston Open and her first grass-court final at the Queen’s Club Championships, where her ranking rose to No. 12 (Wikipedia).
Wimbledon Semifinal Showdown
Anisimova’s current run at Wimbledon has captivated fans. Seeded 13th, she demonstrated her dominance in the first round with a rare double-bagel victory (6-0, 6-0) over Yulia Putintseva. She then navigated through tough matches against Renata Zarazúa, Dalma Gálfi, and 30th seed Linda Nosková to reach the quarterfinals. There, she faced Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, securing a hard-fought 6-1, 7-6 (11-9) victory to advance to her first major semifinal in six years (ESPN).
Her semifinal opponent, world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka, presents a formidable challenge. While Sabalenka boasts three major titles and an impressive record of reaching four consecutive major semifinals, Anisimova holds a surprising 5-3 lead in their career head-to-head series. Although Sabalenka has won two of their three recent encounters since Anisimova’s comeback, including their French Open clash last month, they have never met on grass, adding an intriguing dynamic to this Wimbledon semifinal (ESPN). The match is a battle of powerful groundstrokes, with both players known for their aggressive baseliner style and booming shots that have drawn gasps from the Centre Court crowd (CNN).
Regardless of the outcome, this Wimbledon semifinal guarantees a first-time champion, as none of the 2025 semifinalists have previously lifted the Venus Rosewater Dish (CNN). Anisimova’s current ranking is No. 12, but a victory against Sabalenka would likely see her rise to world No. 7, with a potential climb to No. 5 if she were to win the title (ESPN). Her journey back to the sport’s elite, marked by personal growth and renewed confidence, makes her one of the most compelling stories of the 2025 season.
