Amanda Anisimova faced Aryna Sabalenka in her first Grand Slam final at Wimbledon. It was a significant endpoint in her young career so far. Saturday’s match was a crushing defeat for Anisimova. She lost to Sabalenka 6-0, 6-0 in less than an hour.
Anisimova, 23, had charged into the final after a sensational semifinal triumph. She was up against the most intimidating experienced five-time champion. Apparently, fatigue and nerves got to her, as she committed an astounding 28 unforced errors.
Anisimova admitted that the extreme heat she faced in her semifinal match could have played a role in her game not being as sharp in the decider. She expressed feeling overwhelmed by nerves, stating, “I think I was a bit frozen there with my nerves and maybe the last two weeks I got a bit tired.”
The loss capped a dramatic fall from grace for Anisimova, after a breakout tournament run. She stepped away from tennis altogether in 2023 due to burnout. In 2024, she came back with laser focus and a clear mission to silence her critics. During her time away from the court, she explored new hobbies, including art, and spent valuable time with family and friends.
In the lead-up to the final, Anisimova experienced a host of obstacles that went beyond concerns of physical exhaustion. Still, that wasn’t enough to take away her spirit as she showed incredible poise to finish her on-court interview right after the match.
“My fighting spirit has gotten me to the final today.” – Amanda Anisimova
“There’s a lot of improvement. If anything, I think it’s more experience for me on how to handle nerves. It’s my first grand slam final, so at least I have that experience now.” – Amanda Anisimova
After the match, Anisimova promised to celebrate with her family and friends who had been watching her closely during her dominating tournament run. Her journey to the final was not just a testament to her talent, but to her unshakeable drive to overcome what had tried to break her.
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