On a rainy Saturday night in New York, Aryna Sabalenka made tennis history at Arthur Ashe Stadium, clinching her second consecutive US Open women’s singles championship by defeating Amanda Anisimova 6-3, 7-6(3). With the stadium’s roof closed to keep out the downpour, Sabalenka not only secured her fourth career grand slam title but also became the first woman since Serena Williams to win back-to-back US Open crowns, a feat last accomplished by Williams in 2014.
Sabalenka’s victory was more than just a triumph on the scoreboard. It was a statement of resilience and evolution. After a season marked by heartbreak—losing grand slam finals to Madison Keys at the Australian Open and Coco Gauff at the French Open, and falling to Anisimova in the Wimbledon semi-finals—Sabalenka arrived in Flushing Meadows determined to rewrite her narrative. "I had to overcome a lot of things to get this one," Sabalenka reflected after the match. "I knew that, you know, the hard work we put in, I deserved to have a Grand Slam title this season. When I fell, it was like truly emotions, because it means a lot to defend this title and to bring such a great tennis on court. And to bring the fight and be able to handle my emotions the way I did in this final, it means a lot. I'm super proud right now of myself."
From the outset, the match showcased a reversal of roles for both competitors. Sabalenka, known for letting her emotions get the better of her in tough moments, remained composed even when her serve wasn’t firing on all cylinders. Anisimova, meanwhile, started aggressively, sending powerful forehands deep into the corners and slicing precise backhands just inside the lines. For a brief stretch, it looked like the American would ride the home crowd’s energy to a surprise upset. But the closed roof, intended to shield the court from rain, proved a double-edged sword. Anisimova soon complained that the stadium’s lights made it difficult to see the ball on her toss, disrupting her rhythm on serve.
That issue, combined with mounting nerves in her second grand slam final, led to a rash of errors. Anisimova committed 29 unforced errors and seven double faults, struggling to find consistency on her serve and groundstrokes. Sabalenka, by contrast, made just four unforced errors according to some sources, though others noted 15—a discrepancy likely reflecting different scoring methods but still highlighting her steadiness under pressure. The world No. 1 also won 18 of 28 points returning Anisimova’s second serves, pouncing on every opportunity presented.
Sabalenka’s tactical adjustments were subtle but effective. Recognizing that Anisimova was pressing for winners, she shifted her game plan, pushing her opponent further behind the baseline with heavy, deep shots, but refraining from over-pressing herself. Instead, Sabalenka trusted her serve and waited for Anisimova to make mistakes. The result was a first set that slipped away from the American after Sabalenka reeled off four straight games, and a second set that, despite a late surge from Anisimova, ended in a decisive tiebreak.
Anisimova’s frustration was palpable. She later revealed, "I just felt like throughout the match I wasn't playing my best tennis. I feel like with finals I have a lot of nerves, and it's something I'm trying to work on, but I just wish I played more aggressive. Of course, she was playing amazing. She was playing very aggressive and doing all the right things, so she made it very difficult for me today." Despite the setback, the 24-year-old American is set to reach a career-high world ranking of No. 4 next week, a testament to her resilience after a brutal 6-0, 6-0 loss in the Wimbledon final earlier this summer.
The numbers told the story as much as the emotions on court. Anisimova racked up 22 winners but was undone by those 29 unforced errors and her serve woes. Sabalenka, meanwhile, tallied 13 winners and, depending on the source, either 4 or 15 unforced errors—either way, a mark of her discipline in the biggest moments. Perhaps most impressive, Sabalenka extended her tiebreak record to a remarkable 21-1 on the season, dominating the second-set breaker 7-3 to seal the championship.
Sabalenka now joins an elite group as only the 10th woman in history to win consecutive US Open titles, standing alongside legends like Margaret Court, Billie Jean King, Chris Evert, Martina Navratilova, Steffi Graf, Monica Seles, Venus Williams, Kim Clijsters, and Serena Williams. The Belarusian’s journey to this point has been anything but smooth, but her ability to channel past disappointments into motivation was on full display Saturday night.
For Anisimova, the loss was bittersweet. She had battled through a tough draw, dispatching both Iga Swiatek and Naomi Osaka en route to the final, and showed flashes of brilliance even as the occasion got the best of her. In her post-match remarks, she offered nothing but praise for her opponent: "She came out, and she was playing great tennis from the start. Obviously she's No. 1, and she's very capable of playing amazing tennis, which she did that today. I give all the credit to her. I also have a pretty good record in tiebreaks, I'm pretty sure. I just wasn't playing great. Couldn't serve again. I mean, that's the reason why she's No. 1, and that's why I said that in my speech. I truly really admire her, and she puts in a lot of work, and that's why she's where she is."
Sabalenka, meanwhile, acknowledged the challenge of facing an American in front of a partisan crowd. "I feel like throughout the years, we’ve built our relationship and you guys give me so much support. My first year here when I saw that I have to play back to back against Americans, I was just like ‘no way. Please. I don’t wanna play’. Then coming back the next year and I have to play back to back against Americans in the semis and finals I felt a bit more support. This year I felt even more support. So I’m super excited to come back next year. I hope you’re all gonna cheer for me. Thank you guys for bringing the best atmosphere."
As the confetti settled and Sabalenka hoisted the trophy, the significance of her achievement was clear—not just another title, but a season redeemed and a legacy secured among the game’s greats. With the US Open wrapped and the women’s tour looking ahead to next season, Sabalenka’s resilience and Anisimova’s rise promise plenty of drama for fans to savor in the months to come.
