The U.S. Open women’s singles final is set, and it’s promising to be a blockbuster. Defending champion Aryna Sabalenka will square off against American hopeful Amanda Anisimova on Saturday, September 6, 2025, at the Billie Jean King Tennis Center, following two electrifying semifinal matches that had fans at Arthur Ashe Stadium on the edge of their seats well into the night.
Sabalenka, the world No. 1 and reigning champion, battled past Jessica Pegula in a tense three-set thriller, 4-6, 6-3, 6-4, in a rematch of last year’s final. Pegula, who came out swinging and even took the opening set, made Sabalenka work for every point. The American’s belief was palpable, especially after she lost only four points on serve in the entire third set, but Sabalenka’s power and resilience ultimately proved too much.
Sabalenka’s path to victory was anything but straightforward. On her first match point, she missed a routine overhead, and on her second, she botched a volley—later admitting, “I shouldn’t have ventured forward, because I went just 15 for 27 when up at the net.” But she held her nerve, saving all four break points she faced in the final set and finally clinching the win on her third match point. “I was super emotional. I was just like, ‘Oh, my gosh, no way it’s happening. Please, just close this match,’” Sabalenka explained. “The whole match, I just keep telling myself: [Onto] the next one, just one step at a time, don’t worry about the past. Just try better in the next point.”
It was a high-quality contest, as Pegula herself acknowledged: “We were pushing each other every single game.” She added, “She came up with some ridiculous shots. Like, I didn’t feel like I did much wrong. So, yeah, it seemed like the level was really high, and we were pushing each other every single game.” By the numbers, Sabalenka racked up 43 winners—nearly half of her 90 points won—compared to Pegula’s 21, a testament to her aggressive style. The match was played under the closed roof of Arthur Ashe Stadium, with wind gusts up to 30 mph and rain outside, making for pristine indoor conditions for both players.
Pegula, dressed in a white New York Yankees jacket and clutching a root beer lollipop at her press conference, could only marvel at the intensity of the contest. “It was really high-level. I don’t really know what else to say,” she reflected. “I don’t know how I didn’t break back in the third.”
Sabalenka’s journey to the final was slightly less taxing than Pegula’s, as her quarterfinal opponent, Marketa Vondrousova, withdrew due to an injured knee. That meant Sabalenka hadn’t played since Sunday, September 1—a potential recipe for rust, but she quickly dispelled any doubts, grabbing an early break and showing her trademark firepower. Still, Pegula broke Sabalenka’s run of 32 consecutive service holds and even led by a set before the Belarusian found another gear.
Sabalenka’s mental fortitude has been tested all season. After winning last year’s U.S. Open, she finished runner-up to Madison Keys at the Australian Open in January and to Coco Gauff at the French Open in June. Wimbledon saw her fall to Anisimova in the semifinals. But now, she stands one match away from becoming the first woman to defend her U.S. Open crown since Serena Williams’ three-peat from 2012 to 2014. “I will go out there on Saturday,” Sabalenka vowed, “and I’ll fight for every point like the last point of my life.”
On the other side of the draw, Amanda Anisimova delivered a performance for the ages, coming from a set down to topple two-time U.S. Open champion Naomi Osaka, 6-7 (4), 7-6 (3), 6-3, in a match that stretched nearly to 1 a.m. Friday morning. The 24-year-old American, born in New Jersey and raised in Florida, needed three match points to finally seal the deal. “I wasn’t sure I would make it past the finish line and I tried to dig deep,” Anisimova said. “It was a huge fight out there today.”
Anisimova’s road to the final has been nothing short of remarkable. After being runner-up at Wimbledon in July—where she lost to Iga Swiatek in the title match—she bounced back to defeat Swiatek in two sets in the U.S. Open quarterfinals, showing impressive resilience. Her victory over Osaka was historic in its own right: before this loss, Osaka had been a perfect 13-0 in Grand Slam quarterfinals, semifinals, and finals. “Honestly, it’s kind of inspiring for me, because it makes me just want to train and try to get better,” Osaka said after the match. “But I think I can’t be mad or upset at myself.”
Anisimova’s run has captured the imagination of American fans. She’s the first opponent to beat Osaka this late in a Grand Slam, and this final marks the fifth consecutive women’s Grand Slam final featuring an American. With odds stacked against her—Sabalenka opened as a -250 favorite for the final—Anisimova is relishing her underdog status. She opened at +2500 to win the tournament, but now stands one win away from her first major title.
Saturday’s final promises contrasting styles: Sabalenka’s raw power and relentless aggression against Anisimova’s shot-making and tactical acumen. The stakes are enormous. For Sabalenka, it’s a chance at back-to-back U.S. Open titles, a feat last accomplished by Serena Williams. For Anisimova, it’s an opportunity to capture her first Grand Slam and write her name into the history books.
As anticipation builds, fans are also keeping an eye on the men’s singles semifinals, set for Friday. Carlos Alcaraz will battle Novak Djokovic, while defending champion Jannik Sinner faces Felix Auger-Aliassime. But the spotlight, for now, remains firmly on the women’s final.
Whether Sabalenka’s experience and power will carry her to another title, or Anisimova’s determination and flair will deliver a maiden Grand Slam, remains to be seen. One thing’s for sure: New York is in for a tennis spectacle.
