Amanda Anisimova secured a spot in the Toronto Open final after a hard-fought semifinal victory over fellow American Emma Navarro on Sunday. Anisimova, ranked 132nd in the world, triumphed in a three-set match, winning 6-3, 2-6, 6-2.
“Huge accomplishment,” Anisimova said, reflecting on her journey. “Something I’ve been working really hard toward.” The 22-year-old will now face third-seeded defending champion Jessica Pegula in an all-American final on Monday. Pegula advanced to the final after defeating No. 14 Diana Shnaider of Russia 6-4, 6-3.
Anisimova’s path to the final has been particularly impressive considering she took a mental health break from tennis last year. She has demonstrated her resilience, winning two WTA Tour titles – in Bogota in 2019 and Melbourne in 2022. Anisimova’s determination is evident in her words, “I didn’t want to finish my career on that note. I had sacrificed so much and given so much to the sport.”
The semifinal win marks a significant accomplishment for Anisimova, who has defeated four top-20 players in the tournament: No. 3 Aryna Sabalenka, No. 12 Daria Kasatakina, No. 15 Navarro, and No. 17 Anna Kalinskaya. On Saturday, she displayed her exceptional form by defeating second-seeded Sabalenka 6-2, 6-2 in the quarterfinals, securing her first victory over a top-10 player in almost two years. “I was trying to fight,” Anisimova said. “I’m just happy with how I was able to pull through.”
Play at York University was briefly delayed due to rain just before Navarro and Anisimova were set to begin their match. However, Anisimova persevered and secured her place in the final against Pegula.
