Amanda Anisimova opened her 2026 Wimbledon title bid with a 6-3, 6-2 win over qualifier Lina Gjorcheska on Tuesday.
The sixth-seeded US player needed just over an hour to book her spot in the London Grand Slam's second round.
Amanda Anisimova Eyes Repeat Wimbledon Final Appearance in 2026
Amanda Anisimova — who was last year's Wimbledon finalist — broke Gjorcheska in the fourth game and controlled the match from there. She carried that edge into the second set, reeling off five straight games to build a 5-1 lead before closing it out on serve. The 24-year-old eventually finished with four aces and won 83% of her first-serve points.
Still, Gjorcheska's path to the main draw proved a milestone in its own right. The 31-year-old world No. 222 fought through three qualifying matches to become the first North Macedonian player to reach a Wimbledon singles draw.
But the big stage brought visible nerves. She committed eight double faults and landed just 41% of her first serves, leaving too many doors open for Anisimova.
The US star's win marked one of the first Wimbledon scores to surface amid the All England Club's loaded Day 2 slate. She'll next face fellow US hopeful Sofia Kenin in second-round play on Thursday.
