NEW YORK (AP) — Aryna Sabalenka didn’t make many errors — effectively, till close to the top — regardless of not sacrificing any energy, and outplayed Amanda Anisimova for a 6-3, 7-6 (3) victory in the U.S. Open last Saturday, making her the primary lady to win the event in consecutive years since Serena Williams greater than a decade in the past.
The No. 1-ranked Sabalenka picked up the fourth Grand Slam title of her profession, all on arduous courts. This was not all clean crusing, although.
Sabalenka twice led by a break within the second set, and served for the win at 5-4. However at 30-all, so near the trophy, she had an opportunity to hit an overhead and get to match level. As a substitute, whereas backpedaling, Sabalenka put the ball into the online, giving Anisimova a break probability.
After that excruciating miss, Sabalenka dropped her racket on the blue court docket and smiled a rueful smile. A second later, Anisimova — a 24-year-old American — transformed the break to get to 5-all and shook her left fist whereas 24,000 or so of her closest associates in Arthur Ashe Stadium rose to applaud and shout.
Ah, however quarter-hour after the flub, Sabalenka was kneeling on the court docket and protecting her face with each arms, coming by means of on her third match level — which made good sense, as a result of she merely doesn’t lose tiebreakers. This one made her 21-1 in these this yr, successful her final 19.
Not since Williams took three straight titles from 2012-14 had a lady repeated because the champ in New York.
Aryna Sabalenka celebrates after successful 2025 U.S. Open girls’s singles tennis championship on the USTA Billie Jean King Nationwide Tennis Middle in Flushing New York on September 6, 2025. (Andrew Schwartz/NYDN)
The consequence additionally meant Sabalenka prevented changing into the primary lady to lose three main finals in a single season since Justine Henin in 2006.
“All those tough lessons (were) worth this one,” Sabalenka mentioned. “I’m speechless right now.”
Sabalenka, a 27-year-old from Belarus, was the runner-up to Madison Keys on the Australian Open in January and to Coco Gauff on the French Open. Then, at Wimbledon in July, Sabalenka was eradicated by Anisimova.
That put Anisimova into her first main last, which she misplaced 6-0, 6-0 to Iga Swiatek. However Anisimova put that shutout behind her instantly, effectively sufficient to win a rematch towards Swiatek within the U.S. Open quarterfinals.
“Losing in two finals in a row is great, but then it’s also super hard,” mentioned Anisimova, who sat and buried her face in a towel after the match was over. “I think I didn’t fight hard enough for my dreams today.”
Sabalenka informed her: “I know how much it hurts losing in the finals, but trust me … you’re going to win (one). … Girl, you’re going to enjoy it even more after these tough losses in the finals.”
Aryna Sabalenka and Amanda Anisimova hug after Sabalenka gained her girls’s singles last match of the 2025 U.S. Open tennis championships on the USTA Billie Jean King Nationwide Tennis Middle in Flushing New York on September 5, 2025. (Andrew Schwartz/NYDN)
When Anisimova trailed Sabalenka 2-0, 30-love as Saturday’s match started, some followers might need questioned: There’s no approach there’s going to be a repeat of the ultimate on the All England Membership, proper?
Proper.
Anisimova grabbed the following 4 factors to interrupt again, capping the sport with a backhand winner and a forehand winner. That received the partisan followers up on their toes, shouting, and Anisimova exhaled as she walked to the sideline and wiped sweat from her brow.
Quickly, she led 3-2. However Sabalenka took the following 4 video games and that set.
It started pouring earlier than the match, so Ashe’s synthetic lights have been on, and its retractable roof was shut. That gave the impression to be a distraction at instances to Anisimova, who motioned to her staff within the stands that one thing was bothering her throughout ball tosses for serves.
The setup additionally created windless situations, very best for 2 ball-strikers who actually can convey the ability with good contact. And that’s what they each did from the beginning, placing speedy serves and deep groundstrokes with a lot tempo that responding was by no means easy.
Some exchanges have been breathtaking — to them, definitely, and to spectators who gasped on the energy throughout longer factors.
Each are aggressive throughout back-and-forths and infrequently are risk-averse. The rewards might be large, as can the errors, and Anisimova was in search of the traces with full cuts off each side.
Of Sabalenka’s first 13 factors, which helped her declare the preliminary two video games, only one got here by way of her personal winner. The opposite dozen arrived due to Anisimova’s six unforced errors and 6 pressured errors.
By the top, Anisimova had practically twice as many winners as Sabalenka, 22-13, and practically twice as many unforced errors, too, 29-15.
“You are so incredible,” Anisimova informed Sabalenka throughout the trophy ceremony. “I’m in awe of what you’ve accomplished, and you keep on achieving so many incredible things.”
Initially Printed: September 6, 2025 at 7:32 PM EDT
