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The semifinals of the women’s singles take center stage today at the 2025 Wimbledon Championships.
World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka (1) is currently in action against U.S. 13th seed Amanda Anisimova on Centre Court.
Following that match, Iga Świątek (8) takes on unseeded Belinda Bencic for a place in Saturday’s final. The mixed doubles final then completes today’s order of play on Wimbledon’s primary show court.
As for yesterday’s tennis, Novak Djokovic (6) beat Flavio Cobolli (22) in four sets while Jannik Sinner (1) defeated Ben Shelton (10) in three to reach the men’s singles semis, which take place tomorrow.
Sabalenka 4-6, *2-3 Anisimova
You’ve got to love the momentum in tennis. Amanda Anisimova takes that little Sabalenka rise and holds to love.
Rather than being passive, the American lets out a huge roar — which Sabalenka takes in from a distance.
We’re properly simmering in this semifinal right now.
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The ladies’ singles semifinals are not the only high-stakes matches happening this afternoon at Wimbledon — there’s plenty of doubles action underway.
On No. 1 Court right now in the men’s doubles semifinal, Marcelo Arevalo and Mate Pavic (1) are up 7-6(2), 5-5* against Rinky Hijikata and David Pel.
Sabalenka 4-6, 2-2* Anisimova
It feels like Aryna Sabalenka is starting to prowl a bit. She knows she needs to up her level from here — and that pressure will be one of the few ways she can knock Amanda Anisimova out of her rhythm and comfort zone.
She holds to 15 and that swiftness will be encouraging, especially if she can keep eking out the Anisimova service games.
Sabalenka 4-6, *1-2 Anisimova
First perils of the second set, but they are only minor as Anisimova takes a couple of nibbles and a deuce to get over the line.
A classic Sabalenkaism of throwing the ball away in apparent disgust after holding serve.
If it’s not happening the way she wants, she isn’t happy with it — even if the result is good.
Sabalenka 4-6, 1-1* Anisimova
Aryna Sabalenka lost the first set against Laura Siegemund on Tuesday and has won so many tight matches this year, but this is a big test.
Unlike in a lot of those matches, including against Siegemund, Amanda Anisimova’s level feels a lot more sustainable.
And she’s one of the few players who can match Sabalenka for pace off the ground and become the protagonist that the world No. 1 is desperate to be at all times.
Sabalenka holds to 15.
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Second-serve points were indeed the difference.
Amanda Anisimova had to hit five second serves on “pressure points” — four of them break points against her.
She won all five points.
Aryna Sabalenka had to hit seven second serves on “pressure points” — two of them break points against her.
She won 3/7, and lost the set on a double fault.
Sabalenka 4-6, *0-1 Anisimova
Solid start to the second set too for Amanda Anisimova.
She holds to 15 and that feels like a nice way to back up her opening set win.
At this point, I can’t shake the fact Anisimova is 5-3 up in her head to head with Aryan Sabalenka — even if this is their first meeting on grass.
The American really does have nothing to fear here.
Is now an unfair time to share our piece on tennis’ dark arts?
Maybe…
Still, it’s a brilliant read from Matthew Futterman and Charlie Eccleshare. Bookmark it for later — because Aryna Sabalenka has just walked back onto Centre Court.
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Wimbledon recap: Dark arts on Centre Court before Amanda Anisimova reintroduces herself
Aryna Sabalenka grabs her bag and heads straight off for a toilet break.
Amanda Anisimova was superb and consistent in that opening set. She deserves that lead and right now, she is in a glorious position.
We didn’t get that tiebreak I called earlier then!
Sabalenka 4-6, 0-0* Anisimova
A sixth deuce and a brilliant backhand crosscourt on the run, brings up a second set point for Anisimova.
The first serve is long from Sabalenka.
The second is too.
A double fault, and Amanda Anisimova has one the first set.
Wow…
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Sabalenka *4-5 Anisimova
Away we go again. Let’s hope these delays don’t know the players out of their stride.
Anisimova is the first to cry in angst as Sabalenka turns 0-15 into 30-15. She then gets back level and is clearly trying to lift her level.
But Sabalenka does that herself with a remarkable baseline shot that clips the opposite end.
She doesn’t serve out the game from there, though. We get four visits to deuce first — and it takes that time for Sabalenka to fire wide and face a break point that would seal the first set for Anisimova.
A huge, deep first serve and a miscued return saves it…
Sabalenka *4-5 Anisimova
For a second time, it looks like we will have a short break to help a spectator in the sun-drenched East Stand.
Salabenka asks if more water is needed — and she then carries out the delivery.
Sabalenka *4-5 Anisimova
Anisimova takes some deep breaths as a loose shot into the net is a little off in terms of the intensity both players have exuded so far.
That is 30-15 though, so no real dramas — and Anisimova blitzes through the next couple of points to take the game away from Sabalenka.
At what point should I call first-set tiebreak? Because I’m already feeling it now…
Sabalenka 4-4* Anisimova
Yes, as Nancy mentioned — new balls for Aryna Sabalenka’s next service game prompts Anisimova, who forgot to get a new racket out for the occasion.
Apparently it is a reset on the racket tension that a player would like, to mirror the fresh balls — and that makes sense.
The minor delay is followed by Anisimova getting a look at 15-30, but Sabalenka is still finding the shots to recover these situations. It’s clearly frustrating Anisimova too. It will be interesting to see how she channels that.
Sabalenka holds as Anisimova is into the net and we remain on serve at 4-4 in the first set.
Working on her range of shots has been a real area of focus for Aryna Sabalenka — and she’s showing it here.
A lovely drop shot put her at break point in that game but a couple of errors proved to be her undoing as Anisimova held.
We’ve got new balls which means Anisimova has also reached for a new racket.
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Sabalenka *3-4 Anisimova
What a sensational drop shot from Sabalenka to bring up her fourth break point of this seventh game. But this time, Sabalenka is the one who can’t take the opportunity rather than Anisimova saving it.
She then goes long from the baseline on the following rally and with another wild backhand from Sabalenka, Anisimova has a big hold in the bag.
This semifinal is just starting to motor along and it is captivating.
These two continue to follow the same path. Now Amanda Anisimova throws in a double fault to slip to 0-30, and another fault that produces a third loose point from the American.
Three break points to the top seed…
Big first serve out wide saves the first. Strong, brave second serve saves the second. A wonderful backhand in the corner off Sabalenka’s return makes it deuce.
Throw in a swinging ace at 109mph and that is how you turn things around right there, from Anisimova.
The job isn’t done though, and a second double fault in the game doesn’t help matters. Back to deuce.
Sabalenka 3-3* Anisimova
Sabalenka takes a couple of wild swings of her arm to show a degree of commitment to a warm-up.
She then nails her two serves and holds with relative ease — when the first part of that game was a lot more scratchy.
