Aryna Sabalenka 'super emotional' after downing Jessica Pegula, vows to cut out self-doubt after setting up Amanda Anisimova rematch
Updated 05/09/2025 at 07:56 GMT+1
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Aryna Sabalenka has revealed that self-doubt was the difference at Wimbledon ahead of her US Open final rematch with Amanda Anisimova. The wold No. 1 moved within touching distance of defending her crown with her last-four win over Jessica Pegula, while Anisimova defeated Naomi Osaka to book her place in Saturday's final. Sabalenka and Anisimova went head-to-head in the semi-finals of Wimbledon.
Highlights: Anisimova to meet Sabalenka in US Open final after both triumph in semis
Video credit: SNTV
Aryna Sabalenka insists self-doubt got the better of her when she last faced her US Open final opponent, Amanda Anisimova, at Wimbledon two months ago.
The world No. 1 fell to a 6-4 4-6 6-4 defeat against the American in the semi-finals in SW19, but she can now look ahead to a rematch on Saturday after beating Jessica Pegula 4-6 6-3 6-4 at Flushing Meadows.
Anisimova booked her place in the final with a thrilling 6-7(3) 7-6(4) 6-3 win over Naomi Osaka on Friday.
Sabalenka believes she stands a better chance this time around if she trusts her decisions.
"I think I have to trust myself, and I have to go after my shots," said the three-time Grand Slam champion.
"I felt like in that match at Wimby, I was doubting a lot my decisions, and that was the main thing that was bringing a lot of unforced errors.
"I gave her a lot of opportunities, and of course, she played incredible tennis, but I feel like I had my opportunities.
"I didn't use them, and I feel like the key for me is going to be to just go out there, fight, but trust my decisions and go after my shots."
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'I have to trust myself' - Sabalenka on facing Anisimova rematch in the US Open final
Video credit: SNTV
Sabalenka's semi-final against Pegula was a re-match of last year’s US Open final, which the Belarusian star won 7-5 7-5.
Sabalenka showed nerves of steel to battle back from a set down and survive four break points during the decider.
The defending champion revealed she became emotional as she struggled to close out the contest in the final game of the match.
"I was super emotional," she said.
"I was just, like, Oh, my gosh, no way it's happening.
"Please, just close this match.
"Of course I was emotional, and then there was another kind of, like, easy shot that I - not that I missed, but I didn't make the right decision.
"The whole match, I just keep telling myself, into the next one, just one step at a time, don't worry about the past. Just try better in the next point.
"Because I badly wanted to give myself another opportunity, another final, and I want to prove to myself that I learned those tough lessons and I can do better in the finals.
"In this match I was actually just trying to take one step at a time.
"I was, like, it's okay if you didn't close it from the first match point.
"You're playing great tennis, just go try and better.
"I wasn't really going back in those tough matches."
Sabalenka will now compete in her first Grand Slam final since her defeat against Coco Gauff in the climax of the 2025 French Open.
After that defeat, she was criticised for downplaying her opponent's victory by suggesting that the result was down to her own errors rather than the skill of her American rival.
The 27-year-old insists there will be no repeat of her controversial speech this time around, and that her emotions simply got the better of her.
"No, but what happened in Paris, definitely not gonna happen here and never, you know," she added.
"I learned that lesson, and I will never behave that way. It's not me, you know.
"Yeah, I was super emotional.
"I let it go and let emotions take control over me, and it's not who I am.
"It's never gonna happen again."
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