A year ago, Amanda Anisimova was doing her best to avoid thinking about Wimbledon after failing to qualify for the main draw. Now she has a final to prepare for.

The American stunned world number one Aryna Sabalenka - and herself - to reach Saturday's showpiece, with a 6-4 4-6 6-4 win.

Today's final will see Anisimova fulfill the potential that she showed as a teenager beore taking a length break to look after her mental health.

"To be honest, if you told me I would be in the final of Wimbledon I would not believe you. Especially not this soon," Anisimova said.

"It's been a year's turnaround. To be in the final is just indescribable, honestly."

After losing in the third round of qualifying while ranked 191st in the world, this time last year she was relaxing with her friends and family to take her mind off Wimbledon.

"Every time I'm out of a Grand Slam or a tournament, I take a few days off. I don't turn my phone off, but I don't really follow [what is going on]," she said.

"I like to just relax and spend as much time with whoever I'm with. That's what I was doing [last year]."

Image source, Getty Images

Jonathan Jurejko
BBC Sport senior tennis reporter at Wimbledon

Few would have predicted Iga Swiatek's best Grand Slam result so far this season would come at Wimbledon.

Even the eighth seed is "surprised" she has reached the final.

Swiatek, 24, became known as the 'Queen of Clay' after winning four French Open titles in five years, while her long reign as the world number one was underpinned by consistent success on the hard courts.

Grass was the outlier. But the narrative that Swiatek cannot play on the surface has now been smashed after she reached the SW19 final.

What makes the run even more surprising is Swiatek has been nowhere near her dominant best over the past year.

Read our analysis of why she has been successful this SW19 fortnight.

It is very hot here at Wimbledon now, although thankfully not for me as I'm in an air conditioned commentary box overlooking Centre Court.

Outside people are slowing making their way to their seats, or posing for photos with Centre Court behind them.

Excitement is building for the final, which will guarantee a new name on the trophy.

Billie Jean King
Six-time Wimbledon singles champion on BBC TV

This is a really important time for both players. They will be getting ready physically and emotionally. This is the first final for both of them so it is so exciting.

You can't think about the title, you have to play each ball at a time. If you think about the fact that it's the final, you're toast.

Martina Navratilova
Nine-time Wimbledon singles champion on BBC Two

The majors are the biggest showcase for women's tennis, but this is the crown jewels. Every player dreams of winning here more than anywhere else.

The history, you feed off of it. You appreciate being here as a player. For women's tennis, this is where we get a lot of coverage so it is a big showcase.

I would say play the ball, don't play the Wimbledon final.

Her Royal Highness, The Princess of Wales, is at the All England Club today to see this final.

Courtside for BBC Sport is tennis royalty in the form of Billie Jean King, Martina Navratilova and Chris Evert.

Probably best for Iga Swiatek and Amanda Anisimova if they block out all of that during this final...

Remarkably, the winner of today’s final will capture their first ever grass court WTA-level title of their career.

What a place to do it!

Sonia Oxley
BBC Sport at Wimbledon

She may be only 23 but Anisimova has been touted as a Grand Slam finalist for a long time.

At the age of 15 she was the junior world number two and she lifted the US Open girls' title in 2017, where she beat two-time Grand Slam singles champion Coco Gauff in the final.

A foot injury then hampered her progress the following year but then in 2019 she had a breakthrough year, winning her first WTA title at the age of 17 to become the youngest winner on the tour since Serena Williams 20 years earlier.

She carried that momentum on into a brilliant run to the French Open semi-finals, beating defending champion Simona Halep and Sabalenka along the way and drawing predictions of a bright career ahead.

After two French Open titles, Iga Swiatek added a third Grand Slam by winning the US Open in 2022.

The Queen of Clay has since added a further two Roland Garros titles to her name.

But, since this year, the Pole has only gone as far as the quarter-final stage at Wimbledon.

This year, having lost to Sabalenka in the Roland Garros semi-finals, she went to Mallorca for a week's training on grass before returning to competitive action in Bad Homburg.

Swiatek reached the final at the WTA 500 event, where a defeat by Jessica Pegula left her in tears, but it was an indication that her level on the surface had improved.

"I feel like I have developed as a player and I had time to practise a little bit more [this year]," said Swiatek.

Image source, BBC Sport

Amanda Anisimova is only the second player in the Open era to reach a women’s singles final at a Grand Slam after losing in qualifying at the previous year’s event.

The American stunned world number one Aryna Sabalenka - and herself - to reach today's showpiece, with a 6-4 4-6 6-4 win.

Iga Swiatek, meanwhile, is the youngest player to reach the final on all three surfaces in women’s Singles Grand Slam events since Justine Henin back in 2003.

Swiatek has lost just one set across her six matches so far, and completed a dominant 6-2 6-0 victory over Belinda Bencic in the semi-finals.

Jonathan Jurejko
BBC Sport senior tennis reporter at Wimbledon

Unsurprisingly in one of the biggest matches of their careers, both players will be supported by their nearest and dearest on Centre Court.

Swiatek's father Tomasz - once an Olympic rower - came to London before her semi-final win, while her older sister Agata flew over from Warsaw in time for today's final.

Anisimova has been backed by her sister Maria and nephew Jaxson during her run, although best friend Priscilla Hon - an Australian player - has departed SW19 for her next tournament in Portugal.

Whatever the result today, both camps will be extremely proud of Swiatek and Anisimova's achievements this fortnight.

Image source, Getty Images

Today's women's final between Iga Swiatek and Amanda Anisimova pits Poland's eighth seed against the American 13th seed on Centre Court.

Swiatek is a five-time major champion, with four of those successes coming at Roland Garros and the other at the US Open.

Aiming to stop her is Anisimova in her first ever major final.

Image source, Getty Images

Right, time to switch our attention to the women's final, which is next up on Centre Court.If you're looking for some light reading beforehand, don't worry - we've got you.

Julian Cash on dealing with pressure: "We played a crazy amount of tennis on the grass. There was a lot of pressure on our shoulders. The fact we could do it was surreal. Thank you for coming out today, the support was incredible. It would be mad of me to stand here and not thank my family. Mum, dad, Jamie, coaches. This is what it's been all for. It means the world."

Cash on winning at Wimbledon: "I mean it's something we spoke about going into the year. We had two goals - one was to make it to Turin, another was to win a Slam. A lot of people probably wouldn't have believed us. Our team backed us all the way. To do it here - I mean it couldn't mean more. To do it on the most special court in the world? Incredible.

Lloyd Glasspool becoming the first all-British pair since 1936 to win the men's doubles: "When you say it it sounds incredible. I didn't think too much about it. We've given you one Brit the last few years but now we've given you two Brits."

The runners-up have been speaking. David Pel: "We hadn't even met before the tournament. It was our first time speaking on the first day of the tournament. It's amazing actually."

Rinky Hijikata: "It's been a crazy ride. It's been so much fun playing with David. It's a dream come true to be playing out here on Centre Court today."

Jess Anderson
BBC Sport at Wimbledon

History made!

Brilliant scenes from Julian Cash and Lloyd Glasspool as they win a maiden Grand Slam title and the first for an all-British men's pair since 1936.

That's 89 years ago!!!

Can they do it?

What a time for David Pel to double fault.

The British pair have a two-point lead.

Rinky Hijikata is the best player on the court right now. He hits two sensational winners to level it up at 3-3.