AMANDA ANISIMOVA will attempt to complete the third leg of a never-seen-before tennis feat in the Wimbledon final.
The No13 seed, 23, booked her place in Saturday’s showpiece by beating world No1 Aryna Sabalenka.
Amanda Anisimova booked her place in the Wimbledon final[/caption]
Anisimova prevailed 6-4 4-6 6-4 in the searing heat on Centre Court.
And she will face Iga Swiatek in her very first Grand Slam final – six years on from reaching the French Open semis aged 17.
Should the American beat No8 seed Swiatek, she would maintain a stunning record for her country.
That is because Anisimova is hoping to become the third different American to win a ladies’ singles Grand Slam this year.
Madison Keys stunned Sabalenka in the Australian Open final in January.
Then Coco Gauff defeated the Belarusian at Roland Garros last month.
So if Anisimova can see off Swiatek – after following in her compatriots’ footsteps by knocking Sabalenka out – the USA would be three-quarters of the way to an unprecedented relay.
Because never before have four different players from the same country cleaned up the four Majors.
Of course, should Anisimova do it, the USA would need a fourth player to complete the final leg of the remarkable relay at the US Open.
Jessica Pegula (No3) and Emma Navarro (No10) are both ranked inside the world’s top ten and would love to win a maiden Grand Slam on home soil.
Pegula lost last year’s final to Sabalenka while Navarro’s best Major result was the semis of the same tournament – losing to the eventual champion.
It is a remarkable turnaround for Anisimova, who took seven months out of tennis in 2023-24 for a mental health break.
She lost in Wimbledon qualifying a year ago before going into this year’s event on the cusp of the top ten.
Anisimova said: “It’s been an incredible year for me. To be in the Wimbledon final, I’m still trying to process it in a way.
“Obviously I haven’t been in a Grand Slam final before but I’ve experienced a lot of moments similar and a lot of high-stakes matches. I feel like I’m pretty prepared.
“When I came here, I said that it was a super special feeling to be seeded here after losing in the quallies last year.
“Just being able to be at the top again at a career high just meant a lot to me.
“The rest I just told myself I’m going to compete and enjoy every moment out there.”
Madison Keys won the Australian Open in January[/caption]
Coco Gauff made it two from two for the USA at the French Open[/caption]
Anisimova beat Aryna Sabalenka 6-4 4-6 6-4 on Centre Court[/caption]
