Amanda Anisimova, just 23, repeatedly said sorry to the Centre Court audience—not only for the lopsided 6‑0, 6‑0 loss to Iga Swiatek, but also for how her emotions affected her post‑match speech.
Despite the disappointment, she made a point to thank her mother, who attended in person—a rare occurrence. “My mom is the most selfless person I know, and she’s done everything to get me to this point in my life,” Anisimova shared, recalling how her father passed away in 2019 when she was just 17.
Looking directly at her mother, she added, teary‑eyed, “Thank you for being here and breaking the superstition of flying in.” Then, with a light laugh referencing the quick match, she joked, “It’s definitely not why I lost today.”
She continued, “I’m so happy you could witness this live. I know you don’t get to see me play often anymore, because you do so much for my sister and me. I love you so much.”
Reaching the Wimbledon final marked a major comeback for Anisimova—especially after defeating world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka in the semis. Born in New Jersey and raised in Florida from age 3, she first rose to prominence by beating Coco Gauff in the 2017 U.S. Open junior final and reaching the French Open quarterfinals in 2019.
After taking a break in May 2023 to focus on her mental health, Anisimova returned in 2024. However, with her ranking fallen to 189 by then, she had to attempt qualifying for Wimbledon—and initially failed to get in.
Despite the crushing loss, Swiatek offered encouragement afterward: “No matter what happened today, you should be proud of the work you’re doing.”
According to records, Anisimova became only the second woman in the Open era to reach a Grand Slam final just a year after losing in qualifying. Her ranking is now set to jump into the top 10 for the first time.
After the match, Anisimova expressed gratitude to her team: “Thanks for taking care of me during this journey over the past year.” And with determination still shining through, she concluded, “I know I didn’t have enough today, but I’m going to keep putting in the work—and I always believe in myself. I hope to be back here one day.”
Also Read:
Princess Kate Makes Appearance at Wimbledon to Present Women’s Singles Trophy
Jannik Sinner Defeats Novak Djokovic to Set Up Wimbledon Final Against Carlos Alcaraz
