Freehold native Amanda Anisimova advances to Wimbledon finals
Amanda Anisimova, who was born in Monmouth County, beat the world's No. 1 woman tennis player, Aryna Sabalenka, in the Wimbledon semifinals.
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A New Jersey native making it to the grass courts of Wimbledon in the women's finals is a huge win for the U.S. and the Garden State.
Amanda Anisimova, who was born in Monmouth County, beat the world's No. 1 woman tennis player, Aryna Sabalenka, in the Wimbledon semifinals.
"This doesn't feel real, right now," said Anisimova. "I mean, she's No. 1, but I know a lot of people were cheering for me."
Anisimova is the only American woman to reach the Wimbledon final.
The 23-year-old was born in Freehold after her mother moved to the United States from Russia. The tennis star and her family left New Jersey to move to Florida when she was just 3 years old. She says her sister, who attended the University of Pennsylvania, inspired her to start playing tennis.
According to Anisimova’s bio on the Women's Tennis Association website, one of her idols growing up was Serena Williams. Williams was the last female tennis player from the U.S. to win Wimbledon in 2016. Anisimova could be the next.
"I hope that she can take the grand slam and maybe we can welcome her in New Jersey," said Freehold tennis enthusiast Khalid Shahzad.
Anisimova will take to the grass court this Saturday, and the New Jersey native might just be one match away from making international history.
