NEW YORK – aryna Sabalenka successfully defended her US Open title on Sunday, defeating Amanda Anisimova in a hard-fought match to claim her second consecutive New York crown.
Teh victory solidifies Sabalenka’s position as a dominant force in women’s tennis and marks a significant moment for the Belarusian, who battled through a fluctuating match to overcome a persistent Anisimova. For Anisimova, the loss represents another heartbreaking defeat in a Grand Slam final, despite moments of brilliance throughout the contest.
Anisimova entered the match aiming to disrupt Sabalenka’s rhythm with her powerful, flat groundstrokes, relentlessly attacking the margins from the outset. She created three break points in the opening game, but Sabalenka initially held and than broke back to lead 2-0. Anisimova responded with aggressive winners of her own, regaining a break advantage at 3-2.
However, nerves appeared to impact Anisimova’s game as she attempted to consolidate her lead. Her groundstrokes lost some of their precision, and a shaky service game featuring two double faults gifted Sabalenka a 5-3 advantage. Despite both players experiencing shifts in their level, Sabalenka proved the steadier of the two, ultimately taking the first set.
The second set saw anisimova visibly frustrated, cutting an exasperated figure during her opening service games. The pressure mounted as she fell behind 2-1, reacting to the deficit by forcefully hitting a ball high into the air and covering her face with a towel.
The energy of the 25,000-strong crowd momentarily dipped,but Anisimova reignited their support by breaking back to force a tie-break. Sabalenka, renowned for her composure in tie-breakers, demonstrated her formidable record in these situations, forging a decisive lead and securing her 19th consecutive tie-break win.
“I know how hard these finals hurt,” Sabalenka said after the match. “But you will enjoy it more after these tough losses.”
