Anisimova Survives Scare; Fritz Leads American Surge at Wimbledon

Amanda Anisimova narrowly escaped elimination in a thrilling match against fellow American Sofia Kenin on Thursday, securing her place in the third round of Wimbledon. This victory contributes to a strong showing by American players, with both Taylor Fritz and Frances Tiafoe also advancing in the men’s draw.

Anisimova’s Hard-Fought Victory

Twelve months after suffering a devastating defeat to Iga Swiatek in the finals, Anisimova faced another challenging match against Kenin, a former Australian Open champion. After being pushed to three sets, Anisimova triumphed with a score of 6-2, 4-6, 7-6(10-3). Her performance included an impressive 20 aces, which proved crucial in her victory.

Following the match, Anisimova reflected on her experience, acknowledging the difficult moments she encountered. She expressed gratitude for her serve, stating, “I never thought I’d say this but thank you to my serve. I’m not a good server at all but after today, I can say that I am.” She praised Kenin as a formidable opponent and emphasized the importance of staying focused, saying, “I tried to bring myself back to the present moment. I try to remind myself – have fun, you’re playing at Wimbledon.”

Anisimova’s next challenge will be a highly anticipated match against Madison Keys, another Grand Slam winner, as the United States celebrates its 250th anniversary of independence.

Fritz’s Dominant Performance

In another all-American matchup, Taylor Fritz showcased his skills on Court Two, defeating Patrick Kypson with a score of 6-2, 6-2, 7-5. The sixth seed’s powerful serve and forehand make him a strong contender on grass courts. He joins fellow Americans Marcos Giron and Zachary Svajda in advancing to the next round, contributing to a total of 15 American players who have reached the third round of the singles draws. This marks the highest number of American players to advance since 1995.

Fritz’s next match will be a significant test, as he faces Alexander Zverev, the French Open champion. Zverev continued his pursuit of a second consecutive Grand Slam title by defeating unseeded Frenchman Valentin Royer 6-1, 6-3, 7-6(3).

American Women Shine

The American women’s contingent also performed admirably, with eight players advancing to the third round. This includes Ashlyn Krueger, Emma Navarro, Iva Jovic, Jessica Pegula, Coco Gauff, and Claire Liu. Keys secured her place with a 6-1, 6-4 victory over local favorite Katie Swan, who was unable to capitalize on the support from high-profile spectators, including Kate, Princess of Wales, and tennis star Andy Murray.

Rybakina Advances with Ease

Elena Rybakina, the 2022 champion, faced Caty McNally and won decisively with a score of 6-1, 6-2. Rybakina’s performance demonstrated her readiness to defend her title as she moves forward in the tournament.

British Players and Notable Matches

Arthur Fery, the last remaining British player in the singles draw, won his match against Finnish qualifier Otto Virtanen, coming back from a set down to win 5-7, 7-6(3), 6-3, 6-3. Fery’s victory is notable, especially considering he is the only survivor from the 19 British players who began the tournament. Other British players, including Jacob Fearnley and Jan Choinski, faced defeats in their respective matches.

Tiafoe’s next opponent will be the 10th-seeded Alexander Bublik, who secured a straight-sets victory over Frenchman Kyrian Jacquet.

Dimitrov’s Vintage Performance

In a nostalgic moment for tennis fans, 35-year-old Grigor Dimitrov delivered a classic performance against Czech 15th seed Jakub Mensik. Dimitrov, granted a wildcard entry, won the match 7-6(5), 4-6, 7-5, 6-3, nearly a year after suffering a significant injury during a previous Wimbledon match.

Dimitrov expressed gratitude for the wildcard, stating, “Wimbledon has been so amazing to me by granting me the wild card. I just want to make sure I make the most out of it.”

Eala’s Historic Achievement

Maya Joint, who previously defeated Serena Williams, faced Alexandra Eala of the Philippines but fell short, losing 3-6, 6-2, 6-0. Eala’s victory marks a historic achievement as she becomes the first Filipino to reach the third round of a Grand Slam. She will now prepare to face defending champion Iga Swiatek, who easily defeated former world number one Karolina Pliskova 6-1, 6-3.

As reported by www.arnnewscentre.ae.

Explore the latest digital editions of FAME Delivered in the Magazine section.

Published on 2026-07-03 05:28:00 • By FAME Delivered News Desk