Aryna Sabalenka exorcises Grand Slam demons to dispatch Amanda Anisimova in straight sets and win 2025 US Open
Updated 06/09/2025 at 23:33 GMT+1
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Aryna Sabalenka exorcised this year’s Grand Slam demons to beat Amanda Anisimova in straight sets and successfully defend the US Open. Sabalenka claimed the victory on Arthur Ashe having, earlier this year, suffered defeat in the Australian and French Open finals. Anisimova, meanwhile, was competing in her first Grand Slam final since a 6-0 6-0 defeat against Iga Swiatek back in July.
Highlights: Anisimova to meet Sabalenka in US Open final after both triumph in semis
Video credit: SNTV
Aryna Sabalenka exorcised this year’s Grand Slam demons to beat Amanda Anisimova in straight sets and successfully defend her US Open title.
The world No. 1, who this year suffered defeat in the Australian and French Open finals, beat her American opponent 6-3 7-6(3) on Arthur Ashe Stadium.
Anisimova was competing in her second Grand Slam final, and her first since a humbling 6-0 6-0 defeat against world No. 2 Iga Swiatek back in July.
Sabalenka became the first woman since Serena Williams in 2014 to win consecutive US Opens, and fittingly capped off her 100th Grand Slam match-win with her first major of the season.
"It's just crazy," Sabalenka said. "All those tough lessons were worth this one. I'm speechless right now."
The top seed broke in Anisimova’s first service game, only for the American to break back immediately and register her first game in a Grand Slam final.
Arthur Ashe’s collective sigh of relief soon turned to a roar as Anisimova won three consecutive games, before Sabalenka broke back to level the scores at 3-3 in the first set.
The Belarusian then found another gear, capitalising on three error-strewn Anisimova games to take the set 6-3. Indeed, Sabalenka won 14 of the last 18 points in that first set, while Anisimova racked up 15 unforced errors.
The eighth seed battled through the first game of the second set to hold, despite complaining that her vision was being impaired by Arthur Ashe’s floodlights.
Sabalenka then applied the pressure, winning the next three games to take a commanding grip of the final.
But Anisimova then kept a semblance of hope alive with a comfortable hold, before registering a break of her own to level the set at 3-3.
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Having failed to control her emotions in previous high-stakes encounters this term, Sabalenka appeared razor sharp, breaking back and consolidating to take herself within a game of her fourth career Grand Slam.
But Anisimova was determined that if she was to go down it would be with a fight.
The defiant American held, before breaking Sabalenka, courtesy of the 27-year-old netting an overhead smash that would have set up a championship point.
The set went on to be decided by a tie-break, where Sabalenka took a 6-1 lead, before sealing the set and title 7-3.
In her on-court victory speech, Sabalenka paid tribute to the New York crowd.
"I love it here," Sabalenka said. "I love the support. I feel like throughout the years we've built a relationship and you guys give me so much support. My first year here when I had to play back-to-back Americans I was like 'No way guys.' But then coming back next year I felt more support and this year I felt even more support.
"I'm super excited to come back next year and I hope you're gonna cheer for me."
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