Aryna Sabalenka confirmed her status as the world’s best player by defending her US Open title with a 6-3, 7-6 (3) victory over Amanda Anisimova in the women’s singles final. The triumph delivered Sabalenka her fourth Grand Slam trophy, matching the career tallies of Naomi Osaka, Kim Clijsters, Hana Mandlikova, and Arantxa Sánchez Vicario.
For Sabalenka, the win represented a powerful response to a turbulent season marked by painful defeats in major finals. After falling short in Melbourne and Paris, she arrived in New York determined to seize the chance. Her focus and composure held strong, even when Anisimova mounted a late comeback in the second set.
The Belarusian dictated much of the contest with her trademark first-strike tennis, attacking relentlessly while maintaining enough margin to limit errors. She targeted Anisimova’s second serve and delivered key winners in critical moments. Anisimova, who had impressed with big victories over Iga Swiatek and Naomi Osaka en route to the final, showcased her explosive ball-striking but could not sustain consistency under the pressure.
In the second set, Sabalenka briefly faltered while serving for the match at 5-4, misfiring on an easy smash and giving Anisimova a lifeline. The American rode the crowd’s energy to break and level the contest, raising hopes of a dramatic turnaround. Yet when the tiebreak arrived, Sabalenka’s steel proved unshakable. She extended her remarkable run of 19 consecutive tiebreak wins, dating back to February, to seal the title in straight sets.
The victory underscores Sabalenka’s hard-court dominance, with all four of her major titles coming at the US Open and Australian Open. She has now reached six consecutive hard-court Slam finals, reinforcing her grip on the sport at a time when the women’s field is fiercely competitive.
For Anisimova, the defeat was bittersweet. Just weeks after suffering a crushing 6-0, 6-0 loss to Swiatek at Wimbledon, she showed resilience and fought hard, but her erratic play ultimately proved costly. Despite falling short, her run to the final demonstrated that she remains a dangerous contender on the biggest stage.
Sabalenka’s triumph at Flushing Meadows not only defended her crown but also may mark the beginning of an even more dominant era, with the world No. 1 showcasing a maturity and mental strength that had eluded her in earlier heartbreaks.
