Photo Source: Camera Sport
Wimbledon, Day 11: and then there were four: Women’s semifinal action kicks off at the Championships on Thursday.
See the full Day 11 Order of Play Here
Here’s a look inside the matchups…
Sabalenka vs Anisimova
Head-to-Head: Anisimova leads 5-3 Trend: Sabalenka has won three of four.
Aryna Sabalenka has become the most consistent force in the women’s game over the last three Grand Slam seasons, reaching at least the semis in 10 of her last 11 appearances at the majors.
Amanda Anisimova, meanwhile, has been on a personal journey that took her to the depths, as she grieved the loss of her father, dealt with mental health issues, and sought to find herself on and off the court. She’s back now, at 23, and playing the most assertive tennis of her life.
Anisimova has all her proverbial ducks in a row, and is where she needs to be, both personally and professionally, to attack the Sabalenka challenge. But Sabalenka goes in as the favorite, the daunting World No.1 who has a plethora of big match experience to draw upon.
Anisimova may have the edge in pure power – she’s one of a small group that could potentially outhit Sabalenka – but in truth the pair will likely nullify each other in this category, and success or failure in this semifinal will be determined by execution of serve and return, and the ability to handle the ebbs and flows of a pressure cooker like a Wimbledon semifinal.
Sabalenka’s variety, outmatched by Laura Siegemund in the quarterfinals, could become a key factor against Anisimova. If she’s able to lure the American off her baseline, it could give her the edge she needs in a contest that will be determined by small margins.
Pick: Sabalenka in two Swiatek vs Bencic
Head-to-Head: Swiatek leads 3-1
Two first-time Wimbledon semifinalists with very different stories. Five-time Grand Slam champion Iga Swiatek is coming to her own on the grass this year, and wouldn’t it be funny if she finally broke her year-long title drought by winning Wimbledon?
The Pole, the first woman from her country to reach this far at Wimbledon since beloved Agnieszka Radwanska, will bid to do just that against Belinda Bencic.
Bencic, one of nine moms to have entered this year’s Wimbledon singles draw, has always been strong on the grass, and always loved playing at SW19. Crazy that she’s made her first semifinal at Wimbledon this year, just 15 months after giving birth to her baby Bella, in a season that saw her start barely inside the Top 500 of the WTA rankings.
Swiatek defeated Bencic at Wimbledon in 2023 in three sets, and has taken three of their four meetings, but this is a different, more inspired version of Bencic. The Swiss will have to find ways to avoid long baseline rallies with Swiatek, as the Pole has been so good at camping out and delivering her lethal brand of dizzying topspin drives this year, thanks to improved footwork and confidence.
There is a relentless quality to Swiatek’s tennis right now, and it will be on Bencic to try to disrupt her by taking the ball early and widening the court with angles. Serve and return will also play a major role in the exchanges, so it will behoove Bencic to seek advantages early in rallies.
All easier said than done against a Swiatek that has clicked into a very special brand of tennis at these championships.
Pick: Swiatek in straights