Wimbledon Finalist Born in New Jersey Ends U.S. Women’s Drought

In 2025, there were four US Women who were ranked in the top ten at Wimbledon, but none of them made it to the Quarterfinals of this year's major tournament.

Instead, a 23-year Female Tennis Player born in New Jersey became the first US Woman since Serena Williams to play in the Wimbledon Women's Single Final. Even though she did not win the Championship, reaching her first Major Championship Final could be the achievement that takes her career to the next level.

From Freehold Township, New Jersey to London, England

Before the 2025 Wimbledon Tournament, Amanda Anisimova had only reached one semi-final at a Major Championship, at the 2019 French Open. She actually took some time away from tennis two years ago.

Anisimova had a strong finish to the 2024 season when she reached the finals at the WTA 1000 in Toronto. She followed that up with by winning the 2025 Qatar TotalEnergies Open just a few months later.

Ranked as the 13th best Women's Tennis Player entering the 2025 Wimbledon Tournament, she outperformed all expectations to reach the Semi-Finals for a matchup with the favorite to win the tournament, Aryna Sabalenka.

Anisimova used her opponent's style of play against her and was the more aggressive player than Sabalenka. The major upset opened the door for the first US-born women's Tennis Player to participate in the Wimbledon Finals since 2019.  She is also the first double-digit seed to reach the finals since 1988.

But her style of play was a poor matchup against the women who would win the 2025 Wimbledon Championship. Iga Świątek's fluid style of play led Amanda Anisimova to commit 27 Unforced Errors as Swiatek won her first Wimbledon Championship.

Anisimova is the daughter of Russian Immigrants who came in the United States in the late 1990s. She was born in Freehold Township, New Jersey in 2001 and began playing tennis at years old after she wanted to be like her older sister.

The family moved to Florida when Amanda was young where the coaching of Rob Brandsma and Rick Vleeshouwers led her to turn professional in 2016. With a strong last 12 months on the Women's Tennis Association (WTA) Tour, Anisimova could be entering the prime of her career as she turns 24 years old later this summer.

If Amanda Anisimova's career continues to ascend and she can win a couple Major Tennis Championships, they will have to put her on this list of the best athletes born in New Jersey: