American Amanda Anisimova upsets top-ranked Aryna Sabalenka, advances to Wimbledon final

American Amanda Anisimova took down Aryna Sabalenka — the top-ranked women’s player in the world — in three sets in the Wimbledon semifinals on Thursday.

Anisimova won the match in three sets, 6-4, 4-6, 6-4, and will now play the winner of Iga Swiatek and Belinda Bencic in the Wimbledon final on Saturday.

Anisimova, the 13th seed in the women’s bracket, has never played in a Grand Slam final. Her best finish at a slam before this year was an appearance in the French Open semis in 2019.

Last year, Anisimova did not make it beyond the qualifying rounds at Wimbledon. Her best finish at the All-England Club came in 2022, when she made it to the quarterfinals.

After finishing 2024 as the 36th-ranked player in women’s tennis, Anisimova has put together her best season as a professional, winning her first WTA 1000 title earlier this year. She entered July ranked 12th, the highest ranking of her career.