Amanda Anisimova’s impressive reemergence as a formidable force in 2022 has continued at Wimbledon with the American ending the dream run of Frenchwoman Harmony Tan.

Displaying significant power from the baseline, the 20-year-old proved far too strong for the woman who upset Serena Williams in the opening round, posting a decisive 6-2, 6-3 victory.

Anisimova, who has overcome some significant challenges to recapture the form that identified her as a talent of the future when a teenager, was outstanding against Tan.

World No.1 Iga Swiatek and fellow American Coco Gauff, who Anisimova defeated in three sets on Saturday, have been the standard bearers of a new generation taking charge in women’s tennis.

But the American, who reached the semi-finals of Roland-Garros as a 17-year-old, has shown at Grand Slam level this year that she has the capacity to match their impressive deeds. 

The Florida-based right-hander defeated four-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka both at the Australian Open and at Roland-Garros this year to highlight her potential.

The No.20 seed reached the fourth round at both tournaments and is delighted to have taken the next step at Wimbledon this Fortnight.

“It is amazing to be in a quarter-final here. It is a dream come true right now,” she said. 

“It is my first quarter-final at Wimbledon. I am just so happy. I [am] just trying to soak in the moments. I [have] stepped on to these courts and I just wanted to entertain you guys.”

The right-hander, who will play 2019 Wimbledon champion Simona Halep for a place in the semi-finals, took charge after securing an early break against Tan on No.1 Court.

Tan demonstrated throughout the opening week of Wimbledon an impressive ability to change the pace, spin and flight of her shots in order to break the rhythm of rivals.

But the powerful American struck the ball so crisply that she regularly forced her rival onto the defensive, with her pace of shot restricting the time Tan had to react. This continued throughout the second set.

It was not simply Anisimova’s superior firepower that proved crucial. She also displayed great patience in extended rallies.

The longer a point went, the more likely it was that Anisimova would win it, with her nous and ability to set up the play impressive against a rival who had shown great craft this Fortnight.

Little separated Anisimova from Tan in terms of the number of shorter points won. 

But the American claimed 19 of the 28 points with rallies between five to eight shots and six of the seven exchanges that extended beyond that in a sign of her mental strength.

After her triumph, she touched on the difficulties that stymied her progression following her run to the semi-finals at Roland-Garros in 2019.

Anisimova, who fell to eventual champion Ash Barty in three sets in Paris in 2019, was left devastated by the death of her father Konstantin Anisimov shortly before the 2019 US Open.

Struggling with injuries that disrupted her rhythm, she missed last year’s Australian Open and slipped to a ranking of No.78 when able to win only one match at Grand Slam level.

But No.25 ranked Anisimova is resilient and her conviction has returned this season, compiling an impressive array of victories.

“It has been a very tough journey over the last couple of years,” she said.

“There have been a lot of ups and downs. That is why these moments have been so special to me. It is so special, after having (those) lows, to be on a high right now.”

Anisimova upset Halep when she was the defending champion at Roland-Garros in 2019 but the Romanian has claimed their past two outings, the most recent occurring on grass in Germany in a quarter-final last month.

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