Tennis

Charleston Open: Amanda Anisimova Upsets Hometown Favorite Emma Navarro, Faces Sofia Kenin in SF

Author photo
By
wendioliveros
Author photo
wendioliveros Sports Editor

Wendi Oliveros is a diehard tennis fan that is known to set her clock at ridiculous hours to watch live action especially during the Australian Open. She is known for indulging in strawberries and cream during Wimbledon and has watched the US Open live several times.

Get to know wendioliveros better
Sports Editor

Published04 Apr 2025

Disclosure
We publish independently audited content meeting strict editorial standards. While our content features sponsored links, from which we may earn a commission, this does not influence our recommendations.
Amanda Anisimova

Amanda Anisimova played spoiler at the 2025 Charleston Open quarterfinals against hometown favorite Emma Navarro.  This was the most competitive and intriguing match of the tournament so far.

Anisimova won a tight first set 7-5.  The second set was filled with service breaks. In the tiebreaker, Anisimova jumped out to a quick lead and never looked back.

That is an accomplishment because everyone knows that Emma Navarro is a scrambler known for winning in three sets.  Navarro was doing everything she could to push this match to a third set, which would have put her at an advantage.

The difference was Anisimova served better in the tiebreaker and had fewer unforced errors.

All-American Semifinal between Amanda Anisimova and Sofia Kenin

Either way, fans knew they were in store for an all-American semifinal. Anisimova will take on Sofia Kenin, whose clay court play this week in Charleston looks as impressive and eerily similar to her run to the French Open final in 2020.

Anisimova and Kenin have split two previous meetings, but those matches occurred in 2017, so a lot of time and tennis have transpired since then.  Both were straight-set wins.

Amanda Anismova has been playing brilliantly since winning in Doha this year.  The 23-year-old has enjoyed her tennis much more since taking a self-imposed hiatus from the sport in 2023.

Sofia Kenin has endured injuries and ups and downs since winning the 2020 Australian Open.  The 26-year-old is healthy, fit, and in great form in 2025.

This will be an intriguing semifinal match that will take place at a time yet to be determined on Saturday.

The other semifinal will feature Jessica Pegula and Ekaterina Alexandrova, who has quietly played well in Charleston, defeating Qinwen Zheng and Diana Shnaider in her previous two rounds.  She has dropped just 11 games in her three rounds of play.