Wimbledon 2025 – Women’s semi-finals: What to expect?

Aryna Sabalenka (No.1) vs Amanda Anisimova (No.13)

💪 The context / The current form

Aryna Sabalenka’s Roland-Garros dreams unravelled in a compelling three-set tussle with Coco Gauff last month. That final was a steep learning curve for the world No.1 – who is still, despite her sustained major success – navigating how to ride her emotions and handle pressure.

A couple of times this fortnight, the top seed has stated she has to learn from Paris, in order to move on, to not “let the emotions just take over you and lose another match.”

The buzz word is “fight” and Sabalenka will do everything in her powers to rule on Saturday.

From a soaring teenage protege, to burn out, Amanda Anisimova has described her tennis journey as a “rollercoaster.” A 2023 hiatus due to mental health reasons has reinvigorated the world No.12 – her perseverance has been well and truly rewarded at Wimbledon. Time to shine.

“It's a super special turnaround for me, considering where I was a year ago and losing in the quallies (third round) here last year, which was a bit heartbreaking,” said the Roland-Garros 2019 semi-finalist. “I've done a lot of work since then, have really pushed my way through I feel like this year. I feel like everything has been kind of clicking for me.”

🏆 Their 2025 tournament

Just look at the scorelines, the top seed has had to dig deep and then deeper in the crunch moments.

Particularly in the tie-break situations, ‘The Tiger’ has come up trumps with conviction and clarity in her play. Even when the scoreboard was not in her favour, Sabalenka has played some scintillating tennis and has conducted her media duties with a constant smile. Aryna is thriving in the grass arena.

• 1st round: victory against Carson Branstine 6-1, 7-5 (1hr 13mins)
• 2nd round: victory against Marie Bouzkova 7-6(4), 6-4 (1hr 35mins)
• 3rd round: victory against Emma Raducanu 7-6(6), 6-4 (2hrs)
• Round of 16: victory against Elise Mertens 6-4, 7-6(4) (1hr 35mins)
• Quarter-finals: victory against Laura Siegemund 4-6, 6-2, 6-4 (2hrs 54mins)

The first win set the tone for a sequence of statement performances. Anisimova – just like in life – has bounced back from setbacks with drive and determination.

The American is harnessing her explosive artillery with measure.

• 1st round: victory against Yulia Putintseva 6-0, 6-0 (44mins)
• 2nd round: victory against Renata Zarazua 6-4, 6-3 (1hr 31mins)
• 3rd round: victory against Dalma Galfi 6-3, 5-7, 6-3 (2hrs 19mins)
• Round of 16: victory against Linda Noskova 6-2, 5-7, 6-4 (2hrs 2mins)
• Quarter-finals: victory against Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova 6-1, 7-6(9) (1hr 39mins)

🆚 Face-to-face

It was Anisimova with the edge in their early exchanges, with two major victories and then a duo of clay victories in 2022. However, since then the world No.1 has managed to bring that head-to-head from 0-4 back to 3-5.

Significantly, Sabalenka has prevailed in their most recent two Grand Slam clashes. She dismissed Anisimova 6-3, 6-2 en route to the Australian Open title last year and then last month, Sabalenka found the answers 7-5, 6-3 in the Roland-Garros fourth round.

🎤 Heard in media

Aryna Sabalenka: "I definitely think this surface suits her game really well. That's why she's playing so well so far. She's serving well. She's hitting quite clean and heavy shots. We just played recently at Roland-Garros. I had to work really hard to get the win.

"I mean, it going to be very aggressive tennis, I think. Less slices from her. She's a challenging player. We had a lot of tough battles. I lost tough battles against her. I won tough ones. I'm excited to face her."

Amanda Anisimova: "It's going to be another super tough match. I know she's going to be playing some amazing tennis. There's nobody better that I can play other than her.

"I feel like we always bring the best in each other's game. I always enjoy the challenge that she brings. I'm sure it's the same vice versa.

"I'm going to be playing against a No.1 in a semi-final of Wimbledon, so it's going to be really special. I'm looking forward to it, and I'll definitely be soaking in this experience.

"I feel like my level right now is very high. I'm doing all the right things. So I feel like I'm giving myself the best possible chance I can right now."

Belinda Bencic vs Iga Swiatek (No.8)

💪 The context / The current form

The often referred to ‘Queen of clay’ has dusted herself off from surrendering her Roland-Garros crown to fine-tune her grass court game.

The movement, the purpose, the striking, it’s all been so sharp from Iga Swiatek, who has compiled her finest Wimbledon showing to date.

For Belinda Bencic, this is a “bonus, I‘m just so happy to be able to play again,” stated the Swiss. The former world No.4, who last featured in a Grand Slam semi-final at US Open 2019, is flourishing back on Tour. Returning to the Tour after maternity in October 2024, nine months later Bencic could reach a maiden major final. What a story.

🏆 Their 2025 tournament

Bencic only won three games to Ekaterina Alexandrova in her only build-up match at Bad Homburg. Since then the Tokyo 2020 gold medallist has gone from strength to strength at Wimbledon, where she was junior champion in 2013.

• 1st round: victory against Alycia Parks 6-0, 6-3 (1hr 3mins)
• 2nd round: victory against Elsa Jacquemot 4-6, 6-1, 6-2 (2hrs 5mins)
• 3rd round: victory against Elisabetta Cocciaretto 6-4, 3-6, 7-6[10-7] (2hrs 58mins)
• Round of 16: victory against Ekaterina Alexandrova 7-6(4), 6-4 (1hr 56mins)
• Quarter-finals: victory against Mirra Andreeva 7-6(3), 7-6(2) (2hrs 8mins)

A set down in the second round and Swiatek looked in real trouble. The world No.1 didn’t panic and used her patterns and trusted her work. The third round against Danielle Collins, who has troubled her in the past, exemplified the Pole’s development on grass.

• 1st round: victory against Polina Kudermetova  7-5, 6-1 (1hr 9mins)
• 2nd round: victory against Caty McNally 5-7, 6-2, 6-1 (2hrs 25mins)
• 3rd round: victory against Danielle Collins 6-2, 6-3 (1hr 15mins)
• Round of 16: victory against Clara Tauson 6-4, 6-1 (1hr 5mins)
• Quarter-finals: victory against Liudmila Samsonova 6-2, 7-5 (1hr 49mins)

🆚 Face-to-face

These exceptional athletes have collided four times, with Swiatek taking the ‘W’ on three occasions.

Most recently at Wimbledon 2023, the Pole was forced to fend off two match points to down Bencic 6-7(4), 7-6(2), 6-3 to move into the quarter-finals. The Centre Court crowd would welcome another finely-poised thriller on Thursday.

🎤 Heard in media

Belinda Bencic: "I don't think we (Swiatek) play similar at all. I think she plays very physical and puts a lot of spin on the ball. I think I take the ball really early, play a little bit more flat.

"I'm really excited for this match. I think we've had some good matches in the past. Obviously, she's a player with a lot of quality, and I'm looking forward to the opportunity to play her again. I hope I will be prepared as best as I can."

Iga Swiatek: "Just happy with the work that I've been doing and proud of myself.

"A lot of respect (for Bencic). I can only imagine how hard it is to come back after pregnancy. We practiced on the first event this year in United Cup, but it already seems like she's ready to be back in the rhythm.

"For sure she has the game to play well here on grass. I never doubted that she can't come back after pregnancy. She seems like she's in a good mood and she's playing well."