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| Aryna Sabalenka celebrates after defeating Amanda Anisimova of the United States during their Women's Singles Final match on Day Fourteen of the 2025 US Open at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on September 06, 2025 in New York City. — AFP |
Aryna Sabalenka Defends US Open Title With Dominant Win Over Amanda Anisimova
NEW YORK — World number one Aryna
Sabalenka delivered a powerful performance to defend her US Open crown,
defeating American Amanda Anisimova in straight sets on Saturday and
securing the fourth Grand Slam title of her career.
The Belarusian star showcased her trademark aggression, targeting Anisimova’s shaky serve to seal a 6-3, 7-6 (7/3) win inside Arthur Ashe Stadium, a result that cements her place at the very top of women’s tennis.
For Sabalenka, the victory carried
extra weight. At 27, she entered the final knowing this was her last chance
in 2025 to capture a major, after painful losses in both the Australian
Open and French Open finals earlier this year. By conquering New
York once again, she not only erased those heartbreaks but also denied
Anisimova the fairytale comeback she was chasing — just two months after the
American’s crushing 6-0, 6-0 defeat to Iga Swiatek in the Wimbledon
final.
“It’s crazy, all those tough lessons
were worth it for this one,” Sabalenka said after her win, visibly emotional.
“I’m speechless right now.”
Her triumph makes her the first woman to defend the US Open title since Serena Williams in 2014, a historic milestone that underscores her dominance on hard courts.
Heading into the match, Anisimova
actually had the upper hand in their head-to-head record, winning six of their
nine previous encounters, including a memorable semifinal at Wimbledon. But in
her seventh Grand Slam final, Sabalenka’s experience shone through as
she denied Anisimova a first major title.
For Anisimova, the defeat was bittersweet. “Losing in two finals in a row is great but it’s also super hard,” she admitted. “I think I didn’t fight hard enough for my dreams today.” She added that the lighting under the closed roof of Arthur Ashe made it difficult for her to serve effectively. “There was no way of adjusting, because I could not see the ball when I was serving, and that was a huge shock to my system.”
Sabalenka’s win was built on two
foundations: relentless pressure on serve and her exceptional record in
tiebreaks. She converted five of her six break points and once again proved
untouchable in pressure situations, extending her incredible streak to 19
consecutive tiebreak wins.
Anisimova, by contrast, squandered
critical opportunities. Early in the opening set, she failed to take advantage
of three break points, allowing Sabalenka to surge into a 2-0 lead. Though
Anisimova fought back with some inspired shot-making, her serve faltered again,
and Sabalenka capitalized to close out the set.
The second set followed a similar
script. Sabalenka looked in control after breaking for 3-1, but Anisimova
briefly revived her chances by breaking back to 3-3. Yet once more, errors crept
in at crucial stages. Serving at 3-4, Anisimova handed Sabalenka another break
with a mistimed forehand, leaving the top seed poised to close out the match.
Though Sabalenka faltered momentarily when serving for the win at 5-4 — missing a routine smash to give Anisimova a lifeline — she quickly regrouped. In the tiebreak, she raced to a 6-1 lead and closed out victory 7-3 in just one hour and 34 minutes.
For Sabalenka, this win is another
stepping stone toward cementing her legacy among the greats of modern tennis.
Her ability to bounce back from heartbreak and maintain her composure under
immense pressure has made her one of the most formidable competitors on the
tour.
For Anisimova, the loss will sting, but
reaching back-to-back finals is proof of her resurgence after a rocky stretch
in her career. Despite her disappointment, she remains a dangerous contender
for future majors.
As the crowd at Arthur Ashe cheered
Sabalenka’s victory, one thing was clear: women’s tennis is entering an
exciting era of fierce rivalries and incredible resilience — with Sabalenka
firmly at its helm.