**Anisimova and Fritz Through as Americans Sparkle at Wimbledon**
Amanda Anisimova and Taylor Fritz showcased impressive performances on Thursday at Wimbledon, advancing to the next round and contributing to a strong showing by American players in the tournament.
Anisimova, who faced off against compatriot Sofia Kenin, found herself in a challenging position as the match extended to three sets. After winning the first set 6-2, Anisimova dropped the second set 4-6, but rallied to secure a victory in the final set, winning 7-6 with a decisive tiebreak score of 10-3. This win marks a significant turnaround for Anisimova, who experienced a tough defeat in last year’s final against Iga Swiatek, losing 6-0, 6-0.
In her post-match interview, Anisimova reflected on the pressure of the match, admitting there were “really awful” moments. However, she credited her powerful serve, which included 20 aces, for helping her through. “I never thought I’d say this, but thank you to my serve,” she remarked, expressing her satisfaction with her performance, especially towards the end of the match. Anisimova will next face Madison Keys, another American and Grand Slam winner, in a highly anticipated showdown set for Saturday, coinciding with the celebration of the 250th anniversary of American independence.
On the men’s side, Taylor Fritz also advanced with a solid performance, defeating Patrick Kypson in straight sets, 6-2, 6-2, 7-5. The sixth seed’s powerful serve and overall game have positioned him as a genuine contender on the grass courts of Wimbledon. Fritz joins fellow Americans Marcos Giron and Zachary Svajda, who also progressed in the tournament, while Michael Zheng, Tommy Paul, and Jenson Brooksby secured their spots in the previous round.
As the tournament progresses, Giron, Svajda, and Zheng will face formidable opponents, including French Open champion Alexander Zverev, fifth seed Alex de Minaur, and third seed Felix Auger-Aliassime, respectively. Brooksby, on the other hand, has a challenging match ahead against Jannik Sinner.
Zverev continued his pursuit of a second consecutive Grand Slam title with a straight-sets victory over unseeded Frenchman Valentin Royer, winning 6-1, 6-3, 7-6. De Minaur also advanced smoothly, defeating Adrian Mannarino with a score of 6-3, 6-2, 6-2.
The American women’s contingent at Wimbledon is particularly strong this year, with eight players advancing to the third round. Alongside Anisimova and Keys, Ashlyn Krueger, Emma Navarro, Iva Jovic, Jessica Pegula, Coco Gauff, and Claire Liu also secured their places in the next round.
However, Caty McNally’s journey ended as she faced 2022 champion Elena Rybakina, who won decisively with a score of 6-1, 6-2. Keys also had a successful outing, defeating local favorite Katie Swan 6-1, 6-4, despite the high-profile support from the stands, which included Kate, the Princess of Wales, and tennis star Andy Murray.
In other matches, Arthur Fery, another British wildcard, triumphed over Finnish qualifier Otto Virtanen, winning 5-7, 7-6, 6-3, 6-3. However, Jacob Fearnley, another British wildcard, was eliminated after a nearly three-hour battle against Spaniard Jaume Munar, losing 6-4, 7-6, 6-4.
In the women’s draw, speculation continues regarding Serena Williams’ potential participation in the doubles event alongside her sister Venus, following her singles exit. Williams’ conqueror, Maya Joint, fell to Alexandra Eala of the Philippines in the next round, with Eala preparing to face defending champion Iga Swiatek, who advanced comfortably by defeating former world number one Karolina Pliskova 6-1, 6-3.
As the tournament progresses, the spotlight remains on the American players, who have demonstrated resilience and skill on the prestigious grass courts of Wimbledon.