12/07/2025

SPORTS SATURDAY | JULY 12, 2025

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A MANDA ANISIMOVA said she had proved the doubters wrong by reaching her first Wimbledon final just two years after being warned that taking a mental health break could ruin her career. Anisimova, seeded 13th, stunned world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka with a 6 4, 4-6, 6-4 win in a bruising semifinal on Centre Court on Thursday. The 23-year-old will face five-time Grand Slam champion Iga Swiatek in the title match today (11pm Malaysin time). It was a cathartic triumph for Anisimova, who was a rising star after reaching the French Open semifinals aged just 17 in 2019. The American struggled to live up to the hype after that breakthrough run at Roland Garros, which included a win over defending champion Simona Halep. Anisimova stepped away from tennis in 2023 after suffering with depression brought on by the scru tiny and expectations that came with being a teen prodigy. Immediately after returning to action last year, Anisimova dropped outside the top 400. After reaching her

Anisimova proves doubters wrong American continues painting Wimbledon masterpiece

TRAMLINES Tennis ace addresses quitting game

AMANDA ANISIMOVA addressed her decision to quit tennis after reaching the Wimbledon final. When asked about her break from tennis, the American said on court that she “would not believe”that she would be in the Wimbledon final a year back on the scene. “To be honest if you told me I would be in the final of Wimbledon I would not believe you,” she said moments after dumping the top seed out of the competition. “Especially not this soon. It’s been a year’s turnaround. So many dream of competing on this court. To be in the final is just indescribable, honestly.” When asked for her plan for the rest of the day, the American replied: “Hopefully I can finally spend some time with my family. I knew today would be important but it’s still relatively early so I’ll make some time for you guys.” Sabalenka fumes ARYNA SABALENKA took issue with what she seemed to deem a lack of sportsmanship from Amanda Anisimova yesterday, as the latter triumphed in their Wimbledon semifinal. Although the Belarusian was gracious in defeat, hugging Anisimova at the net, a third-set incident did appear to rile up Sabalenka. As Anisimova closed in on victory in the final set, she sealed a hold of serve when one of her shots with Sabalenka scraping at the turf and ball but failing to return it. Anisimova raised her hands to the sky and looked upwards in celebration, while walking back to her seat for the change of ends. All the while, Sabalenka seemed to glare at the American. “Why didn’t you say sorry?” the 27-year-old seemed to ask Anisimova, 23, by the umpire’s chair. Yet when Anisimova wrapped up victory a few games later, the players shared a gracious hug at the net. The incident was not the only curious one during the match, as the first set was stopped twice due to clipped the net cord and fell on the other side of the net,

still a little bit unbelievable to me.” Anisimova has never played Swiatek since turning professional, but the pair have a shared history dat ing back to their days on the junior circuit. Swiatek beat Anisimova in straight sets in the Junior Fed Cup finals, a period the American still regarded fondly despite that loss. “I used to enjoy those Fed Cup trips a lot. We had a lot of fun. She was a great junior,” Anisimova said. “I did lose that match against her, unfortunately. I remember a lot of coaches were saying that she’s going to be a big deal one day. Obviously they were right.” Having gone through so much on her road to the Wimbledon final, Anisimova believes it is fitting that Swiatek should be her opponent. – AFP quished her grip against her 35th ranked opponent. Bencic, who won gold at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021, at least got on the board in the first set, but in the second set the rampant Swiatek went up another gear and her opponent had no answers. “Today was just a different level from Iga. She played amazing and I didn’t feel like she let me in the match for one second,” Bencic said. “There’s nothing I really regret. In the end, she was just too good, and I was a step too short.” Swiatek has largely gone under the radar at this year’s Wimbledon, drop ping just one set while every seed above her has been eliminated. Four of her five major wins have come on the clay of the French Open, with her previous best performance at Wimbledon a run to the quarterfinals in 2023. She made her first grass-court final at Bad Homburg just two weeks ago and is now into her second final on the surface. Swiatek has won all five of her Grand Slam finals, but standing in the way of a sixth major title is Anisimova in their first professional meeting. – AFP

“Just me being able to prove that you can get back to the top if you prioritise yourself. So that’s been incredibly special to me. Yeah, it means a lot.” Anisimova is only the second player in the Open era to reach a women’s final at a Grand Slam after losing in qualifying at the previous year’s event. “When I came here, I said that it was a super special feeling to be seeded here after losing in the quali fying last year,” she said. “It’s incredibly special. When it comes to the work ethic, I feel like I really enjoy the training and the proc ess. I feel like with that, results will come. “You’re just not sure when that will happen. For it to happen here is

first Wimbledon semifinal, Anisimova was already guaranteed to move into the top 10 in the WTA rankings for the first time next week. Now she is within touching distance of fulfill ing her potential with a first Grand Slam crown.

“I think it’s different for everyone. I think it goes to show that it is possi ble,” she said. “I think that’s a really special mes sage that I’ve been able to show because when I took my break, a lot of people told me that you would never make it to the top again if you take so much time away from the game. “That was a little hard to digest because I did want to come back and still achieve a lot and win a Grand Slam one day.

Swiatek swats Bencic aside to reach Wimbledon final

IGA SWIATEK breezed into her first Wimbledon final yesterday but hopes of a dream match-up with Aryna Sabalenka were dashed when the top seed was stunned by Amanda Anisimova. Five-time Grand Slam champion Swiatek, not previously known for her prowess on grass, demol ished former Olympic cham

pion Belinda Bencic 6-2, 6 0 in just 71 minutes on Centre Court.

“Honestly, I never even dreamed that it’s going to be possible for me to play in the final,” said the 24-year-old eighth seed. “So I’m just

super-excited and proud of myself and, I don’t know, tennis keeps surpris ing me. “I thought I had experienced every thing on the court but I didn’t experi ence playing well on grass, so that’s the first time. I’m super excited and just enjoying it.” In baking conditions, Swiatek caught her Swiss opponent cold, rac ing into a 3-0 lead, and never relin

two different fans fainting in the east stand. On both occasions, play was paused – for seven minutes, and then for five minutes – and Sabalenka offered her water bottle to the members of the crowd.

US player Amanda Anisimova (left) and Iga Swiatek of Poland celebrate after winning after winning their respective women’s singles semifinal tennis match yesterday. – AFPPIC

Mekies warns of big challenges as he starts work at Red Bull

FRENCHMAN Laurent Mekies got down to work as Red Bull team principal yesterday, a day after replacing Christian Horner, and recognised big challenges ahead for the once-dominant former champions. The Formula One team released a video interview after a filming day with the current RB21 car at Silverstone, with Mekies meeting staff and doing plenty of hand-shaking. Horner, who had been in position for 20 years during which time Red Bull won eight drivers’titles

the news. Horner had a contract until 2030, according to reports, and told staff on Wednesday that he would remain employed by the company. That suggested a long period of well-paid “gardening leave” before being able to go anywhere else, and Ecclestone said he would be surprised if Horner knew what the future held. “What he’s going to do with the rest of his life, difficult to know. I very much doubt he knows what he’s going to do,” he said. – Reuters

“We are not underestimating the challenge ahead. Formula One is going to face probably the biggest challenge of regulation in its history… so its going to be an incredible challenge and we will need everyone.” As Mekies began work, the sport assessed the fallout of Horner’s departure and what it might mean for him and Verstappen. Former F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone, who is close to Horner, told Reuters he had been as surprised as anyone when his compatriot told him

and six constructors’ championships, was fired on Wednesday. “I still look at these guys as most people outside of the team look at them… we see the very best people in the world at what they do,”Mekies said in a Q+A put together by the Red Bull press office. “It’s a privilege to join the team... the focus will really be at making sure that all the talented people here have what they need to perform at their best because they are already the very best,“ he added.