On Saturday, Iga Swiatek and Amanda Anisimova will face off in the Wimbledon women’s final, guaranteeing an eighth consecutive first-time champion at the All England Club. Both players, making their debut in the Wimbledon final, have defied expectations with remarkable runs to the championship match, setting the stage for a thrilling clash.

Poland’s Swiatek, the eighth seed, has overcome her self-proclaimed “grass-court allergy” to reach her first Wimbledon final. The 24-year-old, a four-time Roland Garros champion and 2022 US Open winner, had never advanced past the quarterfinals at Wimbledon before this year. Her standout performance included a commanding 6-2, 6-0 semifinal victory over former Olympic champion Belinda Bencic. Swiatek’s unexpected surge, dropping just one set en route to the final, follows a strong showing at the grass-court Bad Homburg tournament, signaling her growing comfort on the surface. “I never even dreamed that it’s going to be possible for me to play in the final,” she admitted, marveling at her newfound affinity for grass.

Standing in Swiatek’s path to a sixth Grand Slam title is Anisimova, a 23-year-old American who has staged a remarkable comeback. After taking an eight-month mental health break in 2023, which saw her ranking plummet outside the top 400, Anisimova has roared back to form. Her journey included a stunning 6-4, 4-6, 6-4 semifinal upset over world number one Aryna Sabalenka, the tournament favorite. Anisimova’s resilience is underscored by her Qatar Open title in February and a final at Queen’s Club in June, proving her prowess on grass. “If you told me I would be in the final of Wimbledon, I would not believe you,” she said, emphasizing the significance of her achievement after being unable to qualify for Wimbledon just a year ago.

The matchup is a fresh one, with Swiatek and Anisimova never having met on the professional circuit, though Swiatek won their encounter as juniors. Anisimova recalled the loss, noting, “A lot of coaches were saying that she’s going to be a big deal one day. Obviously they were right.” Now, with Anisimova set to break into the top 10 for the first time, she views the final as a “super special” opportunity to compete against an “unbelievable player.”

As Swiatek aims to maintain her perfect 5-0 record in Grand Slam finals and Anisimova seeks her maiden major title, the final promises to be a defining moment. Both players have already rewritten their narratives—Swiatek conquering grass, Anisimova defying doubters after her break—making this a battle not just for the Wimbledon crown, but for their places in tennis history.