Amanda Anisimova proves doubters wrong with run to Wimbledon final

LONDON – Amanda Anisimova said she had proved the doubters wrong by reaching her first Wimbledon final, just two years after being warned that taking a mental health break could ruin her career.

The American, seeded 13th, stunned world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka with a 6-4, 4-6, 6-4 win in a bruising semi-final on Centre Court on July 10.

The 23-year-old will face five-time Grand Slam champion Iga Swiatek in the title match on July 12.

It was a cathartic triumph for Anisimova, who was a rising star after reaching the French Open semi-finals aged just 17 in 2019. But she struggled to live up to the hype after that breakthrough run at Roland Garros.

Anisimova stepped away from tennis in 2023 after suffering with depression brought on by the scrutiny and expectations that came with being a teen prodigy.

She was then told that her exile could be fatal to her chances of competing at a high level when she eventually returned. When she returned to action in 2024, Anisimova dropped outside the top 400.

But she won the Qatar Open this February and showed she was comfortable on grass by reaching the Queen’s Club final in June.

After reaching her first Wimbledon semi-final, Anisimova was already guaranteed to move into the top 10 in the WTA rankings for the first time next week.

Now she is within touching distance of fulfilling her potential with a first Grand Slam crown.

“I think it goes to show that it is possible,” she said.

“I think that’s a really special message that I’ve been able to show because when I took my break, a lot of people told me that you would never make it to the top again if you take so much time away from the game.

“That was a little hard to digest because I did want to come back and still achieve a lot and win a Grand Slam... Just me being able to prove that you can get back to the top, if you prioritise yourself. So that’s been incredibly special to me.”

Anisimova has never played Swiatek since turning professional, but the pair have a shared history dating back to their days on the junior circuit.

Swiatek beat Anisimova in straight sets in the 2016 Junior Fed Cup finals, a period the American still regarded fondly, despite that loss.

“I used to enjoy those Fed Cup trips a lot. We had a lot of fun. She was a great junior,” she said.

“I did lose that match against her, unfortunately. I remember a lot of coaches were saying that she’s going to be a big deal one day. Obviously, they were right.”

Having gone through so much on her road to the Wimbledon final, Anisimova believes it is fitting that Swiatek should be her opponent.

“Iga is such an unbelievable player. She’s also been an inspiration to me. Her work ethic and all of her achievements have been really inspiring,” she said.

“I’m sure it will be an amazing match. Getting to compete against an unbelievable player again is going to be super special.”

Swiatek, meanwhile, said she is surprised by her run to the final after dispatching former Olympic champion Belinda Bencic with ease on July 10.

The Pole wrapped up a dominant 6-2, 6-0 semi-final victory against her 35th-ranked opponent in just 72 minutes on Centre Court.

The eighth seed is more renowned for her strength on clay, with four French Open titles among her collection of trophies. She also won the 2022 US Open on the hard courts of Flushing Meadows.

But the former world No. 1 is just one victory away from winning on the grass of Wimbledon – her least successful Grand Slam before 2025.

“Honestly, I never even dreamed that it’s going to be possible for me to play in the final,” said the 24-year-old, whose previous best at Wimbledon was a run to the quarter-finals in 2023.

“So I’m just super excited and proud of myself and I don’t know, tennis keeps surprising.”

On Anisimova, she added: “She also had great tournament before Wimbledon (reaching the final at Queen’s). She knows how to play on grass. With her game style, the surface fits her. So it’s going to be a challenge.” AFP, REUTERS