The past seven Wimbledons, remarkably, have produced seven first-time champions. That trend is set to continue at this year’s tournament, with one of Aryna Sabalenka, Amanda Anisimova, Iga Świątek or Belinda Bencic lifting the trophy on Saturday.
Bar Sabalenka – the world No. 1 and a three-time grand slam champion – this is an unlikely group of semifinalists. That was perhaps inevitable when the early rounds yielded multiple upsets, opening the door for players further down the rankings.
Five-time major winner Świątek is the most decorated, though she has traditionally struggled on grass, only once making it beyond the fourth round at Wimbledon prior to this year’s competition.
And despite her recent dominance in the women’s game, the Polish star is yet to win a title this year.
The unseeded Bencic, meanwhile, is appearing in her first grand slam semifinal. So too Anisimova, who is enjoying a career resurgence after taking an eight-month mental health break from tennis in 2023.
“I feel like everything has been kind of clicking for me, and I’ve been feeling more and more confident with each tournament I’ve played this year,” Anisimova, the last American left in the women’s draw, told reporters on Tuesday.
“I feel like my confidence is pretty high. On top of that, I’m just enjoying every moment. … My level right now is very high. I’m doing all the right things.”
