The stars and stripes are back on Center Court — and Amanda Anisimova is leading the charge.
It’s been 29 years — yes, almost three full decades — since an American woman lifted the Wimbledon trophy. The last to do it? Venus Williams, way back in 2000. Since then, not even Serena — despite her dominance — managed to claim the crown after 2016. Now, out of the shadows, comes Amanda Anisimova. And suddenly, Wimbledon has red, white, and blue written all over it.
At 23 years old, Anisimova just pulled off the biggest shock of the tournament, knocking out world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka in a thrilling 6-4, 4-6, 6-4 semifinal. The crowd on Centre Court? Electrified. The tennis world? On notice. And back home in the States? Hope is soaring.
You can also read:
- Tennis: just a clown or the best Italian in tennis for the past 20 years? This former world No. 9 retires today after one final masterpiece against Alcaraz
- Toni Nadal criticizes Djokovic’s ‘reckless’ strategy during the Wimbledon final
“I can’t believe it. This is everything I’ve dreamed of.”
Anisimova, once called the future of American tennis, is finally living up to that billing — on the biggest stage of all. She didn’t just beat Sabalenka, she outplayed her. When the pressure spiked, Amanda got sharper. When the rallies stretched, she held her nerve. When it looked like Sabalenka might bully her into submission, she punched right back — clean, fearless, and focused.
And now, for the first time since Serena’s run in 2016, an American woman will stand on Centre Court on the final Saturday of Wimbledon.
America’s 29-year drought on the line
Let’s put this into perspective.
Since 2000, no American has held the Wimbledon women’s trophy. Not Serena after 2016. Not Sloane. Not Coco — not yet. We’ve had heartbreaks, near misses, and early exits. Wimbledon started to feel like foreign ground. Until now.
Anisimova’s run has reignited something.
You can feel it in the roar of the crowd, in the buzz on social media, in the headlines building back home. A calm, composed, big-hitting American is one match away from ending a drought that’s lasted longer than her entire adult life.
The weight of the moment, and the grace to carry it
And let’s not forget — Amanda isn’t new to big stages. At 17, she made the semifinals at Roland-Garros. Everyone predicted greatness. Then came personal tragedy, mental health struggles, and injury setbacks. For a time, she disappeared from the tour. Many wondered if she’d walk away entirely.
But here she is.
Not asking for sympathy. Not demanding attention. Just playing the kind of tennis that wins Grand Slams.
Swiatek or Bencic — history either way
On the other side of the net in the final will be either Iga Swiatek, world No. 2 and a clay-court queen finally cracking grass — or Belinda Bencic, a mother and Olympic gold medalist fighting for her first Slam title.
But whoever it is, they’re not the story right now.
The story is Amanda. The story is America. The story is Wimbledon.
And if she wins?
She won’t just lift a trophy. She’ll lift a nation that’s been waiting 29 long years to call its champion “ours” again.
Sources:
- Wimbledon Media Center
- USTA press communications
- Match analysis via ESPN Wimbledon 2025
- Historical Wimbledon stats from WTA archives
