On a sweltering July afternoon at Wimbledon’s Centre Court, the 2025 women’s semifinal between world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka and American Amanda Anisimova delivered a thrilling, three-set spectacle that ended with the 23-year-old Anisimova clinching a 6-4, 4-6, 6-4 victory. The match, a showcase of power and resilience, marked Anisimova’s first-ever Grand Slam final appearance, setting her up to face Iga Swiatek. Yet, beneath the electrifying rallies and dramatic momentum swings, a couple of moments sparked tension, with Sabalenka later revealing that Anisimova’s on-court behavior left her “pissed off.” Despite the frustration, the Belarusian star showed growth, balancing her fiery emotions with a newfound grace, a stark contrast to her controversial French Open press conference earlier this year.
Sabalenka, a three-time Grand Slam champion with titles at the 2023 and 2024 Australian Open and the 2024 US Open, entered Wimbledon as the top seed and a favorite to claim her first title on grass. Her powerful groundstrokes and relentless aggression have long defined her game, but so has her emotional intensity, which has occasionally drawn criticism. After a stinging loss to Coco Gauff in the 2024 French Open final, Sabalenka faced backlash for downplaying her opponent’s performance, a moment she later called “completely unprofessional.” Determined to avoid a repeat, she arrived at her Wimbledon press conference with a playful warning: “You’re not going to see a Roland Garros press conference, so anyone who was waiting for that, you can leave right now!” Her lighthearted tone set the stage for a candid reflection on her defeat, where she credited Anisimova as the “braver” player while addressing two incidents that tested her composure.
The first flashpoint came in the second set at 2-3, when Anisimova let out what Sabalenka perceived as a premature celebration during a point. “I was just trying to chase the ball. Yeah, she was already celebrating it. I was, like, I mean, that’s a bit too early,” Sabalenka said, noting that Anisimova’s comment—“that’s what she does all the time”—further fueled her frustration. “She kind of pissed me off saying that,” she admitted, but added a twist: “I was grateful that she actually said that because it helped me to keep fighting.” This spark of irritation ignited Sabalenka’s comeback, as she battled back to win the second set, showcasing her ability to channel emotions into performance. Anisimova, however, downplayed the moment, insisting it was merely a “long grunt” and not intentional interference. “I don’t really know what the deal was there, to be honest, because I didn’t feel like it was that interfering,” she said, emphasizing the high stakes of the match where both players were grunting loudly.
The second incident occurred in the third set, with Anisimova leading 4-2. A groundstroke from the American clipped the net cord and trickled over, a stroke of luck that handed her a crucial point. Tennis etiquette typically calls for a quick apology—often a raised hand—for such flukes, but Anisimova instead celebrated with a fist pump. Sabalenka, visibly irked, glared at her opponent and later remarked, “I just looked at her and, I mean, for sure she didn’t hear me. I was like, ‘You don’t want to say sorry?’ She just wanted, I guess, badly to win this match.” She added, “If she doesn’t feel like saying sorry for that tricky situation, that’s on her.” Despite her frustration, Sabalenka maintained perspective, acknowledging Anisimova’s superior play and her own missed opportunities, particularly on return.
The match was not without its compassionate moments. Early in the first set, with temperatures soaring past 30 degrees Celsius, Sabalenka paused to offer water to a fan who had fainted in the stands, a gesture that highlighted her sportsmanship amid the heat of competition. Anisimova, too, emerged as an inspiring figure. Having taken a seven-month hiatus in 2023 to prioritize her mental health after personal struggles, including the loss of her father, she has staged a remarkable comeback. “This doesn’t feel real right now, honestly,” Anisimova said after her victory. “Aryna is such a tough competitor and I was absolutely dying out there. I don’t know how I pulled it out.” Her resilience, coupled with a 6-3 head-to-head lead over Sabalenka, underscored her ability to match the world No. 1’s power and seize critical moments.
For Sabalenka, the loss marked her third Wimbledon semifinal defeat, adding to her complex relationship with the tournament. “I have really more of a hate relationship right now with Wimbledon,” she confessed, referencing past setbacks, including a 2022 ban due to her Belarusian nationality and a 2024 withdrawal due to a shoulder injury. Yet, her resolve remains unshaken: “I never give up, and I’m going to come back stronger, for sure.” As Anisimova prepares for her historic final, Sabalenka’s reflections reveal a champion learning to navigate defeat with grace, even as she vows to return with renewed fire.
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