Wimbledon is set to crown a new women`s singles champion on Saturday, featuring two finalists few might have predicted. Will the title go to Iga Swiatek, a five-time Grand Slam winner who has historically struggled on grass but found her form this season? Or will it be claimed by the American underdog, No. 13 seed Amanda Anisimova, whose impressive run included a significant upset over world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka in the semifinals?
Our panel of experts offers their insights on the strategies each player needs to employ for victory.
How Anisimova Can Secure the Win
Rennae Stubbs: Anisimova must make a strong start. Playing in her first major final brings a unique pressure. She needs to serve effectively and immediately apply pressure on Swiatek, particularly on her second serve. If she gains an early advantage, she must maintain aggressive play. Crucially, managing her emotions and staying positive throughout the match will be key.
Simon Cambers: Firstly, Anisimova requires a high first-serve percentage. Defeating Swiatek in her current form is unlikely without consistent first serves. While her first-serve win rate has slightly decreased throughout the tournament, her second-serve performance has improved since the third round. Above all, Anisimova needs to stay relaxed. First Grand Slam finals are nerve-wracking. Swiatek has played exceptionally well, but she might show vulnerability if the match becomes tight. Anisimova must match Swiatek`s intensity mentally and physically, signaling her resilience even when Swiatek gains momentum. She should continue the aggressive grass-court tennis that brought her this far. This could be her best, perhaps only, opportunity to win Wimbledon, so she must commit fully.
D`Arcy Maine: Anisimova possesses the necessary confidence and, as Sabalenka noted, the courage to win Wimbledon. She has navigated tough matches throughout the fortnight, consistently finding ways to win by playing aggressively and taking calculated risks at critical junctures. She`ll need to bring all these qualities, and more, to the final. However, as Simon points out, nerves could be a factor in her debut major final. She mentioned trying not to dwell on the stakes before the semifinal, but executing that in a final is challenging. Finding methods to remain composed and focused will be vital, acknowledging from the outset that moments of high pressure will arise. How she handles those will be telling. Entering the match fully prepared, both tactically and mentally, offers her the best chance to cap off a remarkable tournament with the championship.
Bill Connelly: Effective serving will indeed be critical for Anisimova, as Swiatek has been exceptional at punishing second serves, winning over 58% of second-serve return points in five matches and a remarkable 71% in her last two. While Anisimova won 60% of her second-serve points against Sabalenka (her power makes even a second serve potent), Swiatek`s return game is sharp, emphasizing the importance of Anisimova landing her first serves. Beyond serving, Anisimova`s best strategy is to target Swiatek`s backhand. Anisimova arguably possesses the best backhand in women`s tennis – it`s incredibly powerful and provides a significant advantage in extended rallies. It`s an interesting contrast given she often plays short points, but she excels in longer exchanges. Any prolonged backhand-to-backhand exchanges will favor the American.
How Swiatek Can Secure the Win
Rennae Stubbs: Swiatek needs a high percentage of first serves. Anisimova will aggressively attack her second serve to take control of the point early. Swiatek should avoid getting into purely power-hitting exchanges with Anisimova. Instead, she should strategically use her slice and draw Anisimova forward into less comfortable court positions. Maintaining composure is also vital; she must not become discouraged if the match isn`t going her way.
D`Arcy Maine: Swiatek benefits significantly from her experience, particularly in major finals. While this is her first Wimbledon final, she has played—and won—five others, giving her insight into the emotional landscape and expectations surrounding the occasion. Her previous, less successful results at the All England Club likely reduced external pressure compared to tournaments like Roland Garros, which has perhaps aided her progress this year. As the favorite now, she must block out external expectations and concentrate solely on the strategies that have led her to this point. Her performance has been extraordinary. After their semifinal, Belinda Bencic commented that she would have needed to play the best tennis of her life and take significant risks to challenge Swiatek, praising her speed, serve, and ability to dominate matches. If Swiatek can replicate that level of intensity and trust her improved instincts on grass, the title appears within her reach.
Simon Cambers: Swiatek should simply continue playing the way she has. Her struggles on clay earlier this year were partly attributed to a vulnerable serve that sometimes faltered, impacting the rest of her game. At Wimbledon, however, her serving has been brilliant, losing only six service games across six matches. She`s consistently won over 70% of points on her first serve, exceeding 80% in three matches. If she maintains this level, Anisimova will struggle to break through. However, her second serve might be targeted, so a high first-serve percentage is key. Swiatek`s movement is second to none, and it seems she has adapted effectively to grass, which poses a significant challenge for Anisimova, whose power is great but movement can be exposed if Swiatek can set her feet. Swiatek can also leverage her greater experience to manage nerves better.
Bill Connelly: Indeed, the version of Swiatek seen on Thursday was nearly untouchable, reaching a remarkable level. That said, her serve has been vulnerable at times; she faced 15 break points against Caty McNally in the second round and saved 13, and saved eight out of ten against Liudmila Samsonova in the quarterfinals. While her clutch play in those moments is commendable, facing that many break points is a risk, especially against Anisimova, who has consistently generated double-digit break point opportunities with her return game in every match. Swiatek might continue to escape such situations, but relying on that against Anisimova`s aggressive returns is risky.
Predictions: Who Takes the Title?
Pam Shriver: Former Wimbledon junior champion Swiatek has found impressive form on grass over the past three weeks. Perhaps her earlier loss at Roland Garros and playing fewer clay matches than usual allowed her more time and mental space to build confidence on grass. Her movement appears more stable on this surface than in previous years, and her more compact swings are proving punishing. Unless Swiatek plays anxiously, allowing Anisimova to dictate points early, Swiatek is likely to become the ninth different female champion in as many Wimbledons.
Rennae Stubbs: Swiatek. She has more experience in high-stakes finals. However, I anticipate the match being tighter than many might expect.
Simon Cambers: While an Anisimova victory would be a compelling story, logic points to Swiatek. She possesses five Grand Slam titles and knows how to handle the pressure of major finals, even if this is her first Wimbledon final. The irony of her finding peak form on grass after a relatively less dominant clay season won`t be lost on her. Her coach, Wim Fissette, has a strong track record with champions. Together, their combined experience, quality, and class should guide her to victory.
D`Arcy Maine: I picked Swiatek at the start of the tournament, and I`ve been increasingly impressed by her dominance and calm demeanor throughout the fortnight. An Anisimova win would be fantastic, and I believe she will win a major someday, but I don`t foresee it happening in this match. Swiatek`s blend of experience, movement, speed, and serving prowess will likely be too much for Anisimova. I predict Swiatek wins in three sets.
Bill Connelly: Swiatek has lost only two finals in 2025, bringing her career finals record to an astounding 30-6. When she reaches a final, she typically wins. Anisimova`s finals record, in contrast, is 3-6. Throughout this Wimbledon, Swiatek has visibly grown in confidence. The warm, dry conditions have also minimized movement issues and unpredictable bounces that can hinder natural clay-court players on grass. This seems like the perfect moment for her to claim her first Wimbledon title. Anisimova`s hitting is exceptionally powerful, and she will create opportunities; I expect her to win a set. But I predict Swiatek will secure the other two.
