Anisimova stuns Sabalenka to claim place in Wimbledon final as shrieking reaches absurd levels

Amanda Anisimova has reached her first grand-slam final - Rob Newell - CameraSport/CameraSport

The USA’s Amanda Anisimova toppled Wimbledon favourite Aryna Sabalenka in a fascinating semi-final, full of red-blooded power hitting and territorial shrieks.

Sabalenka can usually bully opponents with her ball-speed, but that doesn’t work against Anisimova’s uniquely sweet timing, especially on the double-handed backhand which is surely the finest in the game.

Anisimova held her ground near to the baseline and backed herself to match anything Sabalenka could throw at her. Even in terms of the shrieking, which reached quite absurd levels at times.

There was a moment in the second set when the usually quiet Anisimova started issuing some loud grunts of her own. It didn’t stop Sabalenka from levelling the match at one set apiece, but it did put down a marker.

In the decider, Anisimova ran out to a 5-2 lead but was pegged back to 5-4 before finally coming up with a gorgeous forehand winner, hit cross-court off a typically pacey Sabalenka groundstroke, to claim the victory on her fourth match point.

At 23 years old, Anisimova has already been through plenty of travails in this challenging sport. She lost her beloved father – who had coached her through much of her junior career – in 2019, and took a lengthy break from the tour on mental-health grounds last season.

But she has always had a purity to her ball-strike that has made her one of Sabalenka’s toughest opponents. After nine meetings, Anisimova now leads their head-to-head by six wins to three.

This will be Anisimova’s first grand-slam final, after she lost to eventual champion Ashleigh Barty in her only previous major semi-final, which came at the 2019 French Open.

The tightness of the margin can be summed up in the number of points won by each player: 108 to Anisimova and 106 to Sabalenka. Despite a slow and staccato start, this 6-4, 4-6, 6-4 victory grew into a true Wimbledon classic, which also continues Sabalenka’s barren season at the grand slams despite her status as the dominant world No 1.

04:15 PM BST

Sabalenka* 4-6, 6-4, 4-6 Anisimova

Sabalenka forehand into the net to start the game. Brilliant drop shot by Anisimova is a clean winner, Sabalenka never saw it coming, 0-30. Sabalenka backhand long, 0-40. Three match points.

Anisimova is just long with a forehand return on the first match point. Sabalenka saves the second.

Anisimova forehand into the corner... is a winner. GAME SET MATCH ANISIMOVAAAA!!!

Sabalenka screams out - Reuters/Toby Melville

04:09 PM BST

Sabalenka 4-6, 6-4, 4-5 Anisimova*

Nervy backhand into the net from Anisimova to start the game. Another very wobbly forehand from Anisimova’s goes long, 15-30. Sabalenka is smartly avoiding Anisimova’s backhand.

Unreturned Anisimova first serve, 30-30. Tension filled out, both players come close to missing till Anisimova sends a backhand long, break point Sabalenka.

Sabalenka backhand return into the net, deuce. Sabalenka forehand return into the net, match point. 

Anisimova backhand into the tramlines, back to deuce. Huge forehand followed by an overhead smash winner by Sabalenka, break point.

Sabalenka forehand deep and Anisimova pushes a backhand long. Sabalenka breaks back. Wow.

04:03 PM BST

Sabalenka* 4-6, 6-4, 3-5 Anisimova

Serving to stay in the match, Sabalenka does what she needs to do and holds to love.

Pressure all on Anisimova now.

04:03 PM BST

Sabalenka 4-6, 6-4, 2-5 Anisimova*

Anisimova’s backhand has come to the party. Striking it so cleanly and with great depth. Lovely feel at the net from Anisimova with a drop volley, Sabalenka chases after it and gets there but only flicks the ball up for Anisimova to finish with a overhead smash.

Huge luck for Anisimova as her forehand clips the net cord and drops short on Sabalenka’s side. Sabalenka gets there but can’t get the ball over.

Anisimova raises her arms in relief. And doesn’t apologise to Sabalenka. Sabalenka glares at Anisimova and utters some words as they cross paths at the net.

03:57 PM BST

Sabalenka* 4-6, 6-4, 2-4 Anisimova

Anisimova is on a roll now. She moves beautifully into a forehand and whips it into the corner for a winner, 0-30. Sabalenka recovers to make it 30-all. 

Anisimova drop volley, Sabalenka digs a backhand down the line. She thinks it is in. Anisimova says it is out. The replay shows it was out. Break point Anisimova.

Saved by Sabalenka when Anisimova nets a forehand on the run. Backhand winner from Sabalenka to stay alive in this set.

In tactical news, Anisimova has stopped the bleeding on the forehand side and is matching Sabalenka in the cross-courts. But it’s still the backhand up the line that I would remember from that last game. A short slice from Sabalenka which would have paid off against any other player. 

But Anisimova squeezed it up the line and found just a tiny slice of white paint.

03:52 PM BST

Sabalenka 4-6, 6-4, 1-4 Anisimova*

The pendulum swings back toward Sabalenka as he earns two break points with a cross-court backhand winner. Sabalenka squanders the first then the second when she nets a backhand down the line, deuce. 

Anisimova completes what could be a vital recovery with a forehand winner. Sabalenka may come to rue her failure to take those chances in this game.

Sabalenka is under the cosh in the third set - AP/Kin Cheung

03:45 PM BST

Sabalenka* 4-6, 6-4, 1-3 Anisimova

Sabalenka pushes a backhand long and finds the cosh again at 15-30. Wild backhand return from Anisimova is long, 30-all. The quality of tennis on display has fluctuated wildly.

Sabalenka forehand into the net, ellicts a loud yell from Anisimova, deuce. Sabalenka miscues a forehand into net and Anisimova has a break point.

Big first serve by Sabalenka, Anisimova’s return is high in the air, Sabalenka lets the ball bounce and blasts a forehand long. Horrible miss but Anisimova won’t care because she breaks.

03:39 PM BST

Sabalenka 4-6, 6-4, 1-2 Anisimova*

Anisimova completes the recovery from a break down to get ahead in the set. Pressure back on Sabalenka.

Anisimova stretches to hit a forehand - Getty Images/Julian Finney

03:34 PM BST

Sabalenka* 4-6, 6-4, 1-1 Anisimova

This match is now threatening to get away from Anisimova as Sabalenka stamps her authority on the match. A 115mph first serve swings away from Anisimova for an ace, 30-15. Anisimova attacks a short second serve by Sabalenka and draws the error, deuce.

Sabalenka backhand into the net, break point Anisimova. Anisimova in attack mode again, Sabalenka counter punches and finds the baseline with a forehand, catching out Anisimova, who nets.

Deep return by Anisimova and Sabalenka dumps another backhand into the net, second break point. Anisimova gets Sabalenka wide, the Belarusian then hits a forehand into the tramlines. Anisimova breaks back.

03:28 PM BST

Final set: Sabalenka 4-6, 6-4, 1-0 Anisimova*

Both players left the court after the second set but it’s Sabalenka who has started the third better. A backhand winner makes it 0-30 then Anisimova dumps a backhand into the net, three break points.

Another backhand into the net from Anisimova and Sabalenka breaks.

03:25 PM BST

‘The match feels like it’s turning’

Interesting to see how Sabalenka has been serving to the Anisimova forehand on all the big points at the end of that set. She certainly has done a much better job of staying away from the lethal Anisimova backhand, which only notched a single winner in that set after six in set one. The match feels like it’s turning … but still a long way to go. 

That tactical battle, which finds Sabalenka winning the forehand exchanges and Anisimova the backhand ones, will be key.

03:21 PM BST

Sabalenka* 4-6, 6-4 Anisimova

Sabalenka blasts a forehand winner, 30-15. Set point Sabalenka after Anisimova nets a forehand. Second serve by Sabalenka catches the service line, Anisimova swings and misses the ball.

Sabalenka takes it and we are going to a final set.

03:17 PM BST

Sabalenka 4-6, 5-4 Anisimova*

Sabalenka is now playing some of her best tennis. She finds a great angle for a forehand and the ball beats Anisimova, 30-all.

Anisimova forehand into the net, set point. Saved by Anisimova with a crunching forehand winner down the line. 

Brilliant from Sabalenka as she crushes a backhand down the line, second set point. Frustration for Sabalenka after another forehand into the net.

Third set point comes and goes for Sabalenka. But she earns a fourth chance, showing get persistence and hustle to stay in the rally and pass Anisimova with a backhand winner. 

Deep Anisimova backhand and Sabalenka sends her backhand long. After nearly 10 minutes, Anisimova eventually comes through and makes Sabalenka serve for the set.

03:08 PM BST

‘Terrible game from Anisimova’

That was a terrible game from Anisimova. She even missed a neutral backhand! Plus two forehands into the net and a double-fault. But most people are gonna play a bad game at some point. The question is how you respond.

03:07 PM BST

Sabalenka* 4-6, 5-3 Anisimova

Back comes Anisimova. She moves to 0-30 when Sabalenka can’t get her return into play. Massive forehand by Sabalenka is too hot for Anisimova, 30-all. 

Sabalenka forehand drop shot winner. And she consolidates the break with a 114mph wide ace.

Sabalenka is roaring back into the match - AP/Kirsty Wigglesworth

03:03 PM BST

‘Anismova warned by umpire’

I think chair umpire Damien Dumusois has just warned Anismova that she was very close to being docked a point for hindrance. She yelled in triumph after a backhand up the line, which Sabalenka failed to lay a racket on, but the shout came before the ball was past Sabalenka. 

I wonder if Anisimova said anything about the Sabalenka grunt in response!

03:02 PM BST

Sabalenka 4-6, 4-3 Anisimova*

Anisimova gets ahead at 30-0 but a tight forehand into the net makes it 30-all. Another forehand into the net by Anisimova and Sabalenka has a break point.

Clear tension in Anisimova’s game at the moment. Second serve into the net, Anisimova double faults and Sabalenka breaks. 

Huge moment in the match.

02:59 PM BST

Sabalenka* 4-6, 3-3 Anisimova

Both players taking turns to yell and scream after points. Very odd and a bit of off-putting. Another yell from Sabalenka following an unreturned first serve from Anisimova and she holds.

02:55 PM BST

Sabalenka 4-6, 2-3 Anisimova*

75 seconds is all it takes for Anisimova to hold. Loud scream by Sabalenka when she dumped a forehand return to the net.

02:53 PM BST

Sabalenka* 4-6, 2-2 Anisimova

Sabalenka still seems a bit unsure about the best way to hurt Anisimova. The shrieking loud and will only get louder as the pressure increases. Sabalenka holds.

02:52 PM BST

‘Players’ confidence has been rocked by the various electronic line-calling issues’

Interesting to see Anisimova shake her head there after Hawk-Eye called her first serve wide. She made as if to talk to the chair umpire before realising that it would do no good. Feels like the players’ confidence has been rocked by the various electronic line-calling issues that have afflicted this tournament.

Anisimova jumps into a forehand - Shutterstock/Tolga Akmen

02:49 PM BST

Sabalenka 4-6, 1-2 Anisimova*

Anisimova with a defiant look on her face as she walks to her chair after another service hold. The American is up to 17 winners and is winning 76 per cent of points on her first serve.

Extremely impressive numbers against the world No 1.

02:46 PM BST

Sabalenka* 4-6, 1-1 Anisimova

A lot of empty seats now in the sunnier parts of Centre Court. Sabalenka holds to get back on track.

02:45 PM BST

Second set: Sabalenka 4-6, 0-1 Anisimova*

Sabalenka left the court after the first set. Probably a change of clothes but also an attempt to refocus. Anisimova has not been overwhelmed by her power and has even hit bigger than her.

Anisimova holds to 15 to continue her momentum.

Anisimova took the first set - Getty Images/Kirill Kudryavtsev

02:39 PM BST

‘The Anisimova backhand came up trumps’

The Anisimova backhand came up trumps in that last game to clinch the set. It is an insanely good shot. She had one screamer down the line, and on the penultimate point, she hit a scorching cross-courter when anyone else would have been defending. Sabalenka needs to stay away from that wing at all costs.

02:34 PM BST

Sabalenka* 4-6 Anisimova

Shorter delay this time and Sabalenka is now serving to take in the set. She gets ahead at 30-15 with a backhand winner. She then strikes a backhand long and 30-all. Big point coming up.

Massive ball-striking from Sabalenka and she finishes with a winner. Anisimova attacks a short serve with a big return on the angled and finishes with a backhand winner.

Anisimova is putting Sabalenka under all sorts of pressure. Sabalenka cracks and sends a backhand long, set point.

Saved by Sabalenka with a big first serve. Anisimova picks up another break point after her cross-court backhand is too hot for Sabalenka, second set point.

Second serve Sabalenka, double fault. Wow. The pressure did get to the world No 1. Anisimova breaks to win the first set.

02:24 PM BST

‘Stats are very similar at the moment’

The stats are very similar at the moment. TennisViz’s ratings say that both women are on attack 25 per cent of the time. Anisimova has a higher first-serve percentage (67 to 58) but when she misses, her second serve is getting duffed up more. She also has more winners, with most of them coming from that gilt-edged backhand. 

02:23 PM BST

It’s a very warm day on Centre Court

Sabalenka cools down in-between games - PA/Mike Egerton

02:20 PM BST

Sabalenka 4-5 Anisimova*

Still waiting for this match to really catch fire. Both players have been tense and the match has lacked top-level quality. Anisimova shows off her backhand again with a cross-court winner. 

A second medical issue causes another delay in play.

02:16 PM BST

Sabalenka* 4-4 Anisimova

We are even at 26 points each as Sabalenka holds to 30. The world No 1 has settled down and happy to mix her game which is slightly unusual for her.

02:14 PM BST

Sabalenka 3-4 Anisimova*

Since the restart, Anisimova is yet to win a point and it means she’s 0-40 down. The American saves the first two, then the third with a thumping backhand down the line winner. Perfect shot.

A swinging 109mph ace gives Anisimova game point but a second double fault of the game means we are back to deuce.

Class from Sabalenka. She gets Anisimova on the run then hits a lovely drop shot winner, break point. But she blows it, slamming a forehand return into the net. 

Anisimova comes through that test to hold.

02:06 PM BST

‘Anisimova double-hander is one of the game’s great sights’

The first really good rally of a slow-starting match went Anisimova’s way, setting up the break points. Sabalenka might regret poking a little forehand chop-shot into Anisimova’s backhand wing, because the Anisimova double-hander is one of the game’s great sights, and she drove the ball away beautifully for a crosscourt winner. Sabalenka should be sending a note to self: don’t do that again. 

02:04 PM BST

Sabalenka* 3-3 Anisimova

Five minutes after the last point, we resume with Sabalenka serving at deuce. Two unreturned first serves from Sabalenka and she holds.

01:59 PM BST

Sabalenka* 2-3 Anisimova

Chance for Anisimova as a Sabalenka double fault makes it 0-30. Big chance now as she powers a backhand cross court for a winner, two break points.

Sabalneka saves the first and then the second when Anisimova sends a forehand long. She goes down on her knees in frustration. She can’t believe it.

Pause in play here as someone in the East Stand, which is open to the sun, appears to be in a bit of trouble.

Sabalenka passes a bottle of water and an ice pack to be given to the spectator.

A member of the public is evacuated out of Centre Court - Getty Images

Sabalenka gives water and ice to a member of the crowd - Getty Images/Dan Istitene

01:53 PM BST

Sabalenka 2-3 Anisimova*

An opening for Sabalenka as Anisimova goes wide with a forehand, 15-30. Two big serves from Anisimova and Anisimova gets ahead. Another unreturned first serve and Anisimova survives that slight scare.

01:50 PM BST

Sabalenka* 2-2 Anisimova

Good defence from Sabalenka and this time it’s Anisimova who is a bit loose with her groundstrokes and the Belarusian holds to love.

Sabalenka serves to Anisimova - AP/Kin Cheung

01:48 PM BST

‘Vulnerable-looking start from Sabalenka’

A vulnerable-looking start from Sabalenka, who has just made such a lot of bread-and-butter errors at certain periods in this tournament. She did it early in both sets against Raducanu. She did it again throughout the Siegemund match. We will see whether she can find her range on this occasion.

01:47 PM BST

Sabalenka 1-2 Anisimova*

Wayward start from Sabalenka continues as she sprays a forehand long, 40-0. In comparison, Anisimova is impressively into her rhythm and finishes the game with a forehand volley winner.

01:44 PM BST

Sabalenka* 1-1 Anisimova

Sabalenka finds herself in no-man’s land in the forecourt after a poor drop shot and Anisimova passes her with a backhand, 40-30. Sabalenka gets on the scoreboard with an 11mph first serve is unreturned.

01:40 PM BST

First set: Aryna Sabalenka 0-1 Amanda Anisimova* (*denotes server)

Confident start for the American, who must be buoyed by the difficulty Sabalenka faced in her previous match. She has more weapons than Siegemund and should cause more problems than her. Anisimova holds to 15.

01:36 PM BST

Here we go!

A place in the Wimbledon final is up for grabs as Sabalenka and Anisimova walk out for their match.

It is another very warm day in SW19. Despite being on the wrong side of their head-to-head, Sabalenka did win their last match, which came at the French Open.

Anisimova won the coin toss and will serve first.

01:25 PM BST

Big day for the American

01:20 PM BST

Another star-studded Royal Box

• Bjorn Borg
• Ollie Bearman
• Rob Brydon
• Jonathan Edwards
• Stephen Fry
• Ellie Goulding
• Emma Hayes
• David Suchet
• Ben Whishaw

01:11 PM BST

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01:00 PM BST

Women’s semi-final day

Hello and welcome to coverage from day 11 at Wimbledon as the tournament reaches the women’s semi-final stage.  

First up this afternoon on Centre Court is Aryna Sabalenka vs Amanda Anisimova. The world No 1 struggled to get past  Laura Siegemund in the quarter-finals and claimed afterwards that she was ready to book her ticket home.

But Sabalenka said she was determined not to repeat the mistake she made during her acrimonious French Open final defeat by Coco Gauff last month.

“Honestly, I think there’s a big possibility that I would have lost this match if I didn’t learn that lesson at the French Open,” she said.

“In some moments I was just keep reminding myself - which it’s probably a little bit crazy - ‘come on, it’s the quarter-final of Wimbledon, you cannot give up, you cannot let the emotions just take over you and lose another match.”

Anisimova is one of the few players on the WTA with a winning head-to-head record against Sabalenka and the top seed believes the 23-year-old American may hold all the aces when they face off for the first time on grass.

“I definitely think that this surface suits her game really well,” Sabalenka, who has lost five of her eight matches against Anisimova, said.

“That’s why she’s playing so well. She’s serving well, hitting quite clean and heavy shots. We just played recently at the French Open. I had to work really hard to get the win. I mean, it’s going to be very aggressive tennis.”

Anisimova equalled her best showing at a Grand Slam when she beat Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova in the last round and is relishing the clash with Sabalenka, looking to improve on a semi-final finish at Roland Garros as a teenager in 2019.

“It’s going to be another super tough match. I know she’s going to be playing some amazing tennis. There’s nobody better that I can play other than her,” Anisimova said.

“I’m really looking forward to the experience. I’m going to be playing against a number one in a semi-final of Wimbledon, so it’s going to be really special.

“I feel like my level right now is very high. I’m doing all the right things. So I feel I’m giving myself the best possible chance I can right now. I’m looking forward to it, and I’ll definitely be soaking in this experience.”

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