Wimbledon, Aryna Sabalenka challenges Amanda Anisimova: a semifinal that tastes like a rematch

The first women’s semifinal of the Wimbledon 2025 tournament will see Aryna Sabalenka and Amanda Anisimova on the court on Thursday. Indeed, the Belarusian defeated, not without difficulty, world number 104 Laura Siegemund, while the American got the better of Russian Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova in two sets on the London grass.

Sabalenka was undoubtedly surprised by the verve of Siegemund, who was able to win a very tight first set that lasted almost an hour, catching the world No. 1 by surprise. The next two fractions were no easier, but the Belarusian took advantage of every possible opportunity, not shaking in the third set despite going down 3-1. With the final result being 4-6, 6-2, 6-4, the German is left to be applauded for her best ever result at Wimbledon.

In Tuesday’s other match, however, Anisimova got off to a rocket start against Pavlyuchenkova, nimbly winning the first set with a clear 6-1 victory. Ahead 5-3 in the second set, with a chance to serve for the match, the American, however, had a moment of lurch, allowing her opponent to take the match to the tie-break. A very long mini-set, which Anisimova won after nullifying no less than five set balls: final score 6-1, 7-6(9), the world number 12 wins.

Sabalenka and Anisimova have faced each other eight times on the professional circuit, with the balance smiling on the Russian-born American, capable of winning five previous matches against three in favor of the Belarusian. The latter, however, smiled in the last, important head-to-head match, winning 7-5 6-3 a month ago in the round of 16 at Roland Garros. Anisimova is therefore looking for a rematch: a success would take her into the final of a Grand Slam tournament for the first time.