Amanda Anisimova's Smart Tactics Topple Sabalenka, Says Navratilova After Wimbledon Semifinal

• by Arlen Fitzpatrick
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A Tactical Masterclass at Wimbledon

Martina Navratilova knows Wimbledon like few others, and when she highlighted Amanda Anisimova's performance after a thrilling semifinal, people listened. The nine-time Wimbledon winner didn't just toss around compliments—she broke down exactly how Anisimova outplayed Aryna Sabalenka in a match crowded with powerful rallies and momentum swings. Navratilova pointed to Anisimova's intelligent use of shot placement, which turned Sabalenka’s own strengths into weaknesses. Instead of letting Sabalenka's baseline aggression set the tone, Anisimova kept things unpredictable. She sent balls deep and wide, pulling Sabalenka off balance and exposing those moments where her movement lagged just enough to make a difference.

What stands out most is Anisimova's quick read of the grass surface. While clay and hard courts can reward brute force, grass demands adjustment. Anisimova seemed to sense this from the first point, slicing low, varying her pace, and never letting Sabalenka settle into her comfort zone. Navratilova called this a 'deeper understanding' of grass-court tennis—a rare skill for someone as young as Anisimova. Each time Sabalenka wound up for her trademark booming groundstrokes, Anisimova either redirected with a sneaky angle or forced a hurried shot with pinpoint depth.

Mental Strength and a Controversial Moment

It wasn’t just tactical execution, though. Big matches are often decided in the mind, and Anisimova kept her nerve when things got tense. Whenever Sabalenka seemed to be clawing back control, Anisimova stayed patient, waiting for the right moment to counter-attack. Those key points—break opportunities and tiebreaker rallies—were often won not by power, but by out-thinking the opponent. Navratilova singled out these turning points, describing them as moments where Anisimova's mental resilience was stronger than ever before.

There was also a bit of drama. After a tense net cord gave Anisimova a lucky point, some fans wondered if she would apologize to Sabalenka—a tradition in tennis. Navratilova was quick to squash any criticism, saying it was clear the shot was unintentional and defending Anisimova's reaction as normal in the circumstances. It's the sort of thing that might rattle a less confident player, but Anisimova just shrugged it off and kept her focus locked on the match.

This win sends Anisimova to her very first Grand Slam final, where she'll take on the battle-hardened Iga Swiatek. For now, though, all eyes are on how Amanda Anisimova used brains as much as brawn to outfox a heavy favorite—earning not just a ticket to the final, but the respect of a tennis legend watching from the stands.