Amanda Anisimova fights back against Sofia Kenin to keep Wimbledon dream alive

The sixth seed looked in complete control after taking the opening set, but former Australian Open champion Kenin battled back to level the match and then moved 3-1 ahead in the deciding set, putting Anisimova under serious pressure.

Anisimova, who suffered the disappointment of last year's Wimbledon final defeat, refused to let the match slip away. She responded by breaking back, drawing level at 3-3 and regaining the aggressive, confident tennis that had earned her the early advantage.

With the momentum back on her side, Anisimova dominated the decisive match tiebreak. She raced clear before sealing victory when Kenin's return found the net, bringing an end to a fiercely contested encounter between two American players born to Russian immigrant families.

Speaking after the match, Anisimova admitted she had struggled to stay composed during the tense moments but was proud of the way she recovered.

"Some moments were really awful and I'm really glad to be in the third round," she said. "Sofia is such a tough opponent and she's such a fighter."

Kenin, now ranked 105th in the world after reaching the heights of Grand Slam glory with her Australian Open title in 2020, showed plenty of determination despite falling short against one of the tournament's leading contenders.

The victory kept Anisimova's Wimbledon campaign on track and highlighted the resilience that has become a key part of her game. She will now face another American challenge in the third round when she meets 26th seed Madison Keys, with a place in the last 16 at stake.

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