Wimbledon enters its final stretch, and with the semi-finals set, the American dream roars louder than ever. On the ATP side, Taylor Fritz commands the spotlight, but it’s Amanda Anisimova who now leads the WTA charge, aiming to end a nine-year title drought for the Stars and Stripes. Standing in her path? World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka, a force of nature on court. Yet, former US Open champion Andy Roddick isn’t backing down from belief, issuing a bold Wimbledon call that fuels hope: Aryna Sabalenka faces Amanda Anisimova warning, and the American dream just found its loudest voice.

On a recent episode of the Served podcast, former US Open champion Andy Roddick didn’t mince words while previewing the blockbuster clash between Aryna Sabalenka and Amanda Anisimova. With passion and precision, Roddick made it clear, he’s riding with the American. “I don’t know what the odds are, but if you’re looking at like a three or four to one, Amanda Anisimova’s in with a shot,” he said, setting the stage for what could be a seismic upset on the Wimbledon lawns.

“She’s got a puncher chance for sure. She can create speed through the middle of the court. This service is going to do her uh some favors. Now, the moment and everything else, we’ll see,” Roddick added, sharpening the contrast between styles. “But this is the opposite matchup for Sabalenka that it was against uh Laura Siegemund.” The fire’s lit, and Anisimova’s ready to swing.

There are plenty of numbers flying around this Wimbledon, but one statistic captures Aryna Sabalenka’s sheer dominance like no other. With a win over Amanda Anisimova, she’ll march into her fourth consecutive Grand Slam final, a feat not seen since Serena Williams a decade ago. Sabalenka is also chasing another slice of history: becoming the first woman since Angelique Kerber and Williams in 2016 to reach three major finals in a single year. Her fire is real, and so is the hunger that drives it.

What fuels her danger is simple: unfinished business. Sabalenka lost the last two major finals, falling to Madison Keys in Melbourne and Coco Gauff in Paris. Add to that her two past semifinal heartbreaks at Wimbledon in 2021 and 2023, and you’ve got a woman coming in not just to win, but to conquer. Against the crafty and frustrating Laura Siegemund, she looked unsettled for nearly three hours. Now, she’ll face a different kind of challenge, one that comes with power, pace, and poise.

Amanda Anisimova isn’t just a name on the draw; she’s a comeback story drenched in belief. After converting her fourth match point against Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, she collapsed in laughter and tears on No. 1 Court. Ranked outside the Top 400 at the start of 2024 after a mental health sabbatical, she now stands a match away from her first Grand Slam final and is set to crack the Top 10 of the WTA Rankings for the very first time.

Still just 23, Anisimova is the youngest American woman to reach the Wimbledon semifinals since Serena Williams in 2004. And her numbers don’t lie. She’s won more matches on grass (11) than any other WTA player this year. With a 26–12 career record and a 68.42% win rate on grass, she edges just ahead of Sabalenka’s 41–20 and 67.21% figures. Add that to her confidence, clean ball-striking, and Roddick’s ringing endorsement, and the stars are beginning to align.

Now, the buzz is getting louder. More American voices are joining the chorus, rallying behind a player who’s not just playing well, she’s playing for something deeper. And as Anisimova steps onto the court today, she’s not just chasing a win. She’s chasing Wimbledon history.

American tennis legends rally behind Anisimova’s Wimbledon dream

Amanda Anisimova’s return to the Wimbledon spotlight has been nothing short of cinematic. On Tuesday, the American carved her way into the semifinals with a rollercoaster quarterfinal win that tested every inch of her mental fortitude. She flew through the first set in just 27 minutes, serving brilliance and poise. But then came the storm. Up 5-2 in the second and holding two match points, Anisimova watched as a gritty Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova clawed her way back into contention.

The 34-year-old Russian refused to fold, forcing a tiebreak that turned into a nerve-shredding saga. Anisimova saved five set points and missed a golden chance at 9-8. But with nerves of steel, a clutch serve, and one final mini-break, the New Jersey native sealed the deal. It wasn’t perfect, it was real, it was raw, and it was powerful. The win punched her ticket to her first Wimbledon semifinal, and perhaps, a step closer to rewriting history.

Watching closely from the sidelines was 2010 Wimbledon doubles champion Vania King, who’s tracked Anisimova’s journey from prodigy to comeback warrior. “She’s always been a precocious player from a young age – she came out really early. She’s had her challenges off court – things out of her control, and I commend her for taking the time that she needs,” King reflected. “I think it was never about her game. She’s always had a lot of talent. She was beating big players. She had a big game early on and it does seem like she’s enjoying it more. Her team is very supportive and positive. I think that’s the feedback that she needs.”

Echoing the sentiment was doubles legend Mike Bryan, who sees something special brewing. “She’s a huge talent and I’ve always thought she has a lot of Grand Slams in her game. It’s good to see her mentally stronger now and loving being back and competing,” he said. With no former champions left in the women’s draw, Bryan added, “There’s going to be a first-time winner… so why can’t it be her?”

Anisimova is no longer the teenager with potential. She’s the fighter with belief. Her raw power, mental fire, and growing joy on the court have made her a force. The question now: can she topple the Belarusian wall and book her place in the final?

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