As the Wimbledon 2025 women’s semifinals loom, all eyes are on a blockbuster clash between world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka and American No. 13 seed Amanda Anisimova, set to ignite Centre Court on July 10. The matchup, a battle of two of tennis’s most ferocious ball-strikers, promises an electrifying display of power and precision. Tennis legend Martina Navratilova, a nine-time Wimbledon champion, has offered her insights on whether Anisimova can pull off an upset against the formidable Sabalenka, who is chasing her first Wimbledon final. With a rich head-to-head history and both players in scintillating form, the stage is set for a thrilling encounter.
Anisimova, 23, has staged a remarkable resurgence this season, reaching her first Wimbledon semifinal after a commanding 6-1, 7-6(11-9) victory over Russia’s Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova in the quarterfinals. The American’s journey back to the top has been nothing short of inspiring, following a mental health hiatus in 2023 and a qualifying loss at Wimbledon last year. “It’s been an extraordinary year for me, so many highs,” Anisimova said, her voice brimming with gratitude as she celebrated with her young nephew Jaxon on Court One. Her performance against Pavlyuchenkova showcased her devastating groundstrokes, particularly her backhand, which Navratilova called “solid as a rock.” Yet, the second set was a rollercoaster, with Anisimova saving five set points in a gripping tiebreak. “You could write a book just about the tiebreak,” Navratilova quipped, praising Anisimova’s composure under pressure.
Sabalenka, meanwhile, survived a grueling quarterfinal against Germany’s Laura Siegemund, a 37-year-old veteran whose crafty slices and drop shots pushed the Belarusian to the brink. The 4-6, 6-2, 6-4 victory was anything but routine, with Sabalenka admitting, “After the first set, I was looking at my box like: ‘Guys, book the tickets. We’re about to leave.’” Her resilience shone through, a testament to lessons learned from her emotional French Open final loss to Coco Gauff. “I’m really proud that I handled myself well and didn’t repeat the same mistake I did at the French Open,” she said. Sabalenka’s powerful serve and aggressive baseline game make her a formidable foe, but her 73% win probability, as predicted by advanced analytics, doesn’t tell the full story.
Navratilova, speaking on BBC Sport, gave Anisimova a fighting chance, citing her 5-3 head-to-head lead over Sabalenka. “I certainly do,” Navratilova replied when asked if Anisimova could upset the world No. 1. “With that head-to-head, she knows she can beat her. She’s done it before.” Their rivalry, spanning eight matches, includes a 6-4, 6-2 Anisimova win in Toronto 2024 and a 2019 Roland Garros victory, though Sabalenka prevailed in their most recent clash at the 2025 French Open, 7-5, 6-3. Notably, this will be their first grass-court encounter, adding an element of unpredictability. “First time on grass for both of them, but they both like the ball a little bit bouncing, a little bit higher,” Navratilova observed, noting their preference for rhythm-based rallies.
The matchup is a clash of styles, with both players thriving on dictating play. “They are rhythm players and they like to get on top of the rally,” Navratilova said, predicting a battle to control the baseline. Anisimova’s ability to match Sabalenka’s power, particularly with her backhand, could be decisive, but her forehand consistency and mental focus will be tested. Sabalenka, for her part, will relish facing an opponent whose straightforward style contrasts with Siegemund’s guile. “Sabalenka will be happy to play somebody who plays like her rather than Siegemund, the choppy, slicy, dicey stuff,” Navratilova noted, though she warned, “She will need to play better than she did in that quarter-final match.”
Anisimova’s mental growth has been a talking point, with her physio Shadi Soleymani credited for instilling resilience. “My whole team here, this wouldn’t have been possible without them, being so tough in that tiebreaker,” Anisimova said. Her ability to stay positive, even when trailing 3-1 in the third set against Linda Noskova, has fueled her deep run. Sabalenka, however, is no stranger to high stakes, having reached the semifinals of the last three majors. Her grass-court Elo rating, while lower than her hard-court dominance, still leads the WTA, but Anisimova’s flat groundstrokes could exploit any lapses.
The tennis world is abuzz with anticipation, with former Wimbledon champion Pat Cash calling Sabalenka’s Siegemund match “absolutely horrendous” yet praising her fighting spirit. Anisimova, meanwhile, has drawn admiration for her fearless play, with Navratilova highlighting her potential to go blow-for-blow with Sabalenka. “Every match we’ve played has been tough,” Anisimova said of their rivalry, embracing the challenge. As Wimbledon braces for a semifinal that could redefine both players’ legacies, Navratilova’s verdict is clear: Anisimova has a real shot, but she’ll need to bring her A-game to topple the world No. 1 on the sport’s grandest stage.
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