Latest news with #AmericanTennis
Al Jazeera
10-07-2025
- Sport
- Al Jazeera
Amanda Anisimova stuns world No 1 Aryna Sabalenka to reach Wimbledon final
An inspired Amanda Anisimova has torn up the script and soared into her maiden Wimbledon final by outclassing world number one Aryna Sabalenka 6-4, 4-6, 6-4 with a display of fierce determination and fearless shot-making. Anisimova's victory on Thursday extended her win-loss record over her equally big-hitting rival to 6-3 and kept alive American hopes of a third women's Grand Slam champion this year after Madison Keys won the Australian Open and Coco Gauff the French Open. 'This doesn't feel real right now, honestly,' a beaming Anisimova said in an on-court interview. 'Aryna is such a tough competitor, and I was absolutely dying out there. Yeah, I don't know how I pulled it off. I mean, she's such an incredible competitor, and she's an inspiration to me and I'm sure so many other people. 'We've had so many tough battles. To come out on top today and be in the final of Wimbledon is so incredibly special. The atmosphere was incredible. I know she's the number one, but a lot of people were cheering for me. Huge thanks to everyone.' On a Centre Court where the temperature climbed to 30 degrees Celsius (86 degrees Fahrenheit), Sabalenka twice rushed to the aid of ill fans by supplying bottles of cold water and an ice pack before she cracked under pressure from her opponent in the 10th game. The 23-year-old Anisimova, playing in her first major semifinal since her 2019 French Open run as a gifted teenager, made her opponent sweat for every point and wrapped up the opening set when Sabalenka produced a double fault. With her back against the wall, Sabalenka roared back like a tiger, the animal that has become her totem, and broke for a 4-3 lead en route to levelling up the match at one set apiece after some sloppy errors from 13th-seeded Anisimova. Having matched each other's decibel levels in a cacophony of grunting, the duo swapped breaks at the start of the decider, but Anisimova pounced again when Sabalenka sent a shot long and went on to book the final with either Iga Swiatek or Belinda Bencic. Anisimova, who took a mental health break in 2023, expressed disbelief in making the final of a Grand Slam for the first time at Wimbledon. 'It's been a year turnaround since coming back and to be in this spot, … I mean, it's not easy, and so many people dream of competing on this incredible court,' Anisimova added. 'It's been such a privilege to compete here, and to be in the final is just indescribable.' Watching Thursday's second semifinal, which will determine her next opponent, was very much on Anisimova's mind despite her nearly three-hour battle in testing conditions. 'It's going to be an incredible match, and whoever comes out on top, it's going to be a battle in the final,' she said. Sabalenka, who was beaten in the title match of the Australian Open and French Open, was left to lick her wounds after missing the chance to become the first woman since Serena Williams in 2014-2015 to reach four straight major finals.
Fox News
10-07-2025
- Sport
- Fox News
American tennis star Amanda Anisimova upsets world No 1 Aryna Sabalenka to advance to Wimbledon final
American tennis star Amanda Anisimova upset world No. 1-ranked Aryna Sabalenka in three sets to advance to the Wimbledon women's final on Thursday at the All England Club. Anisimova, 23, won 6-4, 4-6, 6-4 in a grueling three-set match. The victory for Anisimova sends her to a Grand Slam tournament final for the first time in her career. The only other time she had played in a Grand Slam semifinal prior to her win over Sabalenka was at the 2019 French Open, when she lost as a 17-year-old. The loss for Sabalenka was the third loss she has sustained in the Wimbledon semifinal in her career, with the other two coming in 2021 and 2023. Sabalenka had been outstanding at rallying back after dropping the first set in major tournaments as the world No. 1 ranked player was 11-2 in major tournaments when losing the first set going into this match. Prior to this match, Sabalenka had only lost one set in the entire tournament. Anisimova now owns a 6-3 record against Sabalenka in her career. This is a breaking news story. Please return for updates.
New York Times
10-07-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
Amanda Anisimova beats Wimbledon favorite Aryna Sabalenka to reach first Grand Slam final
THE ALL ENGLAND CLUB, LONDON — Amanda Anisimova has arrived. The former teen sensation, who spent several years in the tennis wilderness following the sudden death of her father and coach when she was 17, upset the world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka 6-4, 4-6, 6-4 under a broiling sun on Centre Court Thursday to make her first Grand Slam final at Wimbledon. Advertisement In a duel of power, periods of inconsistency and tight games at important times, Anisimova kept her nerve when the match was on the line to keep Sabalenka from making the only major final she has never played. For Sabalenka, it was another tough upset loss at the hands of an American seizing an opportunity in the final stages of a Grand Slam. She has played three Grand Slams since becoming the world No. 1 for a second time last fall, having spent two months at the top of the sport in 2023. She lost to Madison Keys in the Australian Open final, and to Coco Gauff last month in the French Open final. She looked across the net Thursday and saw another talented American woman — there are loads of them these days. Sabaleka came up just short once more. For Anisimova, the win was the next high-water mark in a remarkable journey during the past year. Last June, as she muddled through her comeback from nearly a year of battling injuries and struggling with her mental health, Anisimova fell in the final round of Wimbledon qualifying. During the next year, each time she achieved an encouraging result, playing deep into tournaments in Washington, D.C. and Canada and even winning in Doha in February for her first WTA 1,000 title, just below the level of a Grand Slam, her body would abandon her. She struggled with injuries to her back and hip that prevented her from practicing, training and competing as much as she liked. In April, she hire a physiotherapist named Shadi Soleymani to take charge of her health and fitness, and she has been on the upswing ever since. For a few minutes there, it appeared that Sabalenka had turned the match. She drew even as Anisimova finally faltered on serve at 3-3 in the second set, missing two forehands and double-faulting to give Sabalenka her first service break of the afternoon. Anisimova made a gallant effort to get back in the set as Sabalenka tried to serve it out. But Sabalenka snuffed out those efforts with a couple of massive serves, the last one clanking off Anisimova's strings and frame. Advertisement On to a third set they went, with Sabalenka starting it just as she had finished the last, breaking a faltering Anisimova at love. And then, seemingly out of nowhere, Sabalenka went off the boil, her forehands going wide and long at the absolute worst time. One let Anisimova break right back. With a sitter at the net, she pounded another just long and all of a sudden Anisimova had a 3-1 lead The American had kept her opponent's variety out of the contest for most of the match, with Sabalenka playing just nine points at the net through three sets when it was done. But the world No. 1 brought it to the party at the end, trying to bring Anisimova to the net as she had done in Paris at the last major. Then, she fileted Anisimova in the front of the court. Here, Anisimova responded in kind, hitting drop shots of her own, refusing to let Sabalenka draw her into a battle she thought she would win easily. From there, destiny seemed to take over. As Anisimova tried to survive a tight game at 4-2, she cracked a forehand down the line that might have missed. It ticked the net and dropped into the front of the court for the game. She pumped her fist, foregoing the usual apology for good luck. It was that kind of match, with Sabalenka having complained about an early celebration from Anisimova on a winner. On her first match point, Anisimova missed on her vaunted backhand on a ball right in her slot. She missed again to on the same shot to allow Sabalenka a last chance to do what she has done all year and retrieve a seemingly lost position. Instead, the world No. 1 gave her three opportunities to win, one earned by a stunning Anisimova short slice — the kind Sabalenka would so normally put into play. Sabalenka played two without fear, but Anisimova returned the favor on the third, blasting a forehand to the postage stamp on the most high-stakes point of her career to date. She turned to her box with a look of disbelief, though really, this is where she was supposed to be all along
Yahoo
07-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Congratulations Are Pouring In For Ben Shelton On Monday
Congratulations Are Pouring In For Ben Shelton On Monday originally appeared on The Spun. Tennis fans were hyped for 22-year-old Ben Shelton on Monday. With his defeat of Lorenzo Sonego in four sets at Wimbledon, the 10th-seeded Shelton become the second American man to advance to the tournament's quarterfinals— marking the first time he's done so in his young career. Fans were hyped for him across social media. Advertisement "His time is now," Wimbledon's X account said. "THE SHELTON SCREAM RETURNS," the tournament followed-up. "After his third round win, Ben Shelton called on his elder sister Emma's employer to give her more PTO, as she'd been his 'lucky charm' this Wimbledon. The employer, Morgan Stanley, accepted. Emma was back in the stands today as Ben won his fourth round. Brother of the year 🙌" Bastien Fachan replied. "ROAR-ter Finals 🗣️" Tennis TV exclaimed. "BEN SHELTON IS MOVING ON TO THE FINAL EIGHT! 🇺🇸👏" ESPNBET shared. "Ben Shelton becomes the youngest American man to reach the Wimbledon singles quarterfinals since Andy Roddick in 2004. 22 years old. Huge achievement for him & American tennis. 🇺🇸" The Tennis Letter posted. Advertisement "i'll always love ben shelton man, he's so cool on and off the court. so much fire, so much love for the game, so much flair. so talented, such a hard worker, he's going to achieve greatness in his career," a fan commented. USA's Ben Shelton reacts while facing USA's Tommy Paul during the US Open tennis tournament men's singles round of 16 match at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in New York City, on September 3, 2023. (Photo by TIMOTHY A. CLARY / AFP) (Photo by TIMOTHY A. CLARY/AFP via Getty Images)TIMOTHY A. CLARY/Getty Images Shelton will look to take it even further in his next match as he eyes a potential Wimbledon title. What chance do you give the young American of riding this momentum all the way as the tournament advances? Related: Ben Shelton's Girlfriend Turns Heads At Wimbledon Monday Congratulations Are Pouring In For Ben Shelton On Monday first appeared on The Spun on Jul 7, 2025 This story was originally reported by The Spun on Jul 7, 2025, where it first appeared.
CNA
05-07-2025
- Sport
- CNA
Krejcikova rues bad luck after running out of gas in Wimbledon loss
LONDON :Barbora Krejcikova's run to the Wimbledon third round reminded her how it felt to compete on the biggest stage without being hampered by injuries but in a cruel twist of fate her body let her down and her title defence ended on Saturday. The 29-year-old Czech was knocked out when she was beaten 2-6 6-3 6-4 by American 10th seed Emma Navarro in a disjointed display where she led by a set and a break but ended up drained in the final set and needing treatment from the doctor. Tears flowed as she served to stay in the match at 5-3 and she fought on with a hold but the end came swiftly, continuing a frustrating season in which she has been battling a niggling back injury. "I was enjoying every match that I played here. I was enjoying being on court, being able to play, being pain-free, having some good moments, having some tough situations but overcoming them, enjoying the atmosphere," Krejcikova said. "I was also really enjoying the position that I was in. Unfortunately, it ended up this way, which is very unfortunate and really sad and disappointing for me." Krejcikova said that American Navarro was ultimately fitter than her and had more energy when it mattered to take control of the match. "First of all, I thought that it was the food, that I ate too early. That's why I started with all the bananas and all the sugars and stuff inside," Krejcikova said as she looked to pinpoint the reason for her on-court issues. "But I wasn't really feeling better, I was actually feeling worse and worse with time on court. It's very sad for me, very unfortunate." Krejcikova said she would now focus on the North American hardcourt swing with tournaments in Montreal and Cincinnati ahead of the U.S. Open in August. "I don't know if I'll play something in between," said the world number 16. "I'm going to drop on the rankings, so I think I will need to play more tournaments to gain some points and to come back."
