Amanda Anisimova Advances to Wimbledon Semifinals with Family Celebration

LONDON -- Amanda Anisimova reached the semifinals of Wimbledon for the first time in six years, marking a significant milestone in her tennis career. After a tense match against Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, Anisimova secured her victory with a final score of 6-1, 7-6 (9). The match featured a particularly gripping tiebreaker where Anisimova saved five set points before ultimately converting her fourth match point.

At just 17 years old, Anisimova first made her way to the final four at a Grand Slam during the 2019 French Open. After taking a year-long break in 2023 to address her mental health and burnout, the now 23-year-old athlete has returned to form and is currently seeded 13th at the All England Club. Following her semifinal appearance, she is guaranteed to break into the top 10 for the first time in her career, a remarkable turnaround from her previous year's experience where she failed to advance past the qualifying rounds.

Reflecting on her journey, Anisimova expressed gratitude for the highs and lows of the past year, stating that despite the challenges, she has enjoyed every moment. She is set to face the world number one, Aryna Sabalenka, in the upcoming match that will determine who progresses to the finals.

Anisimova showcased her skills by taking a commanding lead early in the match, dominating the first set and establishing a 5-2 advantage in the second set. However, she faced challenges as Pavlyuchenkova began to elevate her game, prompting Anisimova to dig deep and maintain her edge.

During the tiebreaker, Anisimova found herself trailing 6-3 against the 50th-ranked Pavlyuchenkova, who had encountered a glitch with the electronic line-calling system earlier in the tournament. Despite the pressure, Anisimova maintained her composure, significantly outpacing her opponent with a total of 26 winners. After narrowly missing her third match point, she remained focused and did not allow the match to extend to a third set.

When Anisimova finally closed out the match with a powerful 109 mph serve that led to an error from her opponent, she celebrated by falling to the court in joy before embracing her family in the stands. Among those present was her nephew, Jackson, who arrived with his parents to witness Anisimova's victory. With Jackson's fourth birthday just around the corner, the moment carried extra significance for the family.

Expressing her appreciation for her family's support, Anisimova acknowledged how special it was to share this experience with them. The culmination of her hard work and resilience is now on display as she prepares for the semifinals, aiming to continue her success at this prestigious tournament.