Sabalenka beats Anisimova to win back-to-back US Opens

1 week ago 4

By Howard Fendrich

September 7, 2025 — 8.05am

Belarusian Aryna Sabalenka defeated American eighth seed Amanda Anisimova 6-3, 7-6(3) to win the US Open women’s final to go back-to-back, making her the first woman to claim consecutive titles since Serena Williams more than a decade ago.

The No.1-ranked Sabalenka picked up the fourth grand slam title of her career, all on hard courts. This was not all smooth sailing, though.

Sabalenka twice led by a break in the second set, and served for the win at 5-4. But at 30-all, so close to the trophy, she had a chance to hit an overhead and get to match point. Instead, while backpedalling, Sabalenka put the ball into the net, giving Anisimova a break chance.

After that excruciating miss, Sabalenka dropped her racquet on the blue court and smiled a rueful smile. A moment later, Anisimova – a 24-year-old American – converted the break to get to 5-all and shook her left fist while 24,000 or so of her closest friends in Arthur Ashe Stadium rose to applaud and shout.

However, 15 minutes after the flub, Sabalenka was kneeling on the court and covering her face with both hands, coming through on her third match point.

She avoided becoming the first woman to lose three major finals in a single season since Justine Henin in 2006.

Sabalenka, a 27-year-old from Belarus, was the runner-up to Madison Keys at the Australian Open in January and to Coco Gauff at the French Open.

She avoided becoming the first woman to lose three major finals in a single season since Justine Henin in 2006. Sabalenka was the runner-up to Madison Keys at the Australian Open in January and to Coco Gauff at the French Open.

The US Open final was a rematch of the Wimbledon semi-final in July that saw Anisimova come out on top before being blitzed 6-0, 6-0 by Iga Swiatek in the decider.

When Anisimova trailed Sabalenka 2-0, 30-0 as Saturday’s match began, some fans might have wondered if the New York encounter would be a repeat of the final at the All England Club.

Anisimova grabbed the next four points to break back, capping the game with a backhand winner and a forehand winner. That got the partisan fans up on their feet, shouting, and Anisimova exhaled as she walked to the sideline and wiped sweat from her forehead.

Soon, she led 3-2. But Sabalenka took the next four games and that set.

It began pouring before the match, so Ashe’s artificial lights were on, and its retractable roof was shut. That appeared to be a distraction at times to Anisimova, who motioned to her team in the stands that something was bothering her during ball tosses for serves.

The setup also created windless conditions, ideal for two ball-strikers who really can bring the power with good contact. And that’s what they both did from the start, striking speedy serves and deep groundstrokes with so much pace that responding was never simple.

Some exchanges were breathtaking – to them, certainly, and to spectators who gasped at the power during longer points.

Both are aggressive during back-and-forths and rarely are risk-averse. The rewards can be huge, as can the mistakes, and Anisimova was seeking the lines with full cuts off both sides.

Of Sabalenka’s first 13 points, which helped her claim the initial two games, just one came via her own winner. The other dozen arrived thanks to Anisimova’s six unforced errors and six forced errors.

AP, Reuters

Watch every match of the US Open live and on demand on Stan Sport, with select coverage also available on Channel 9 and 9Now.

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