Amanda Anisimova fought back to defeat Naomi Osaka and book her place in the US Open final against defending champion Aryna Sabalenka.
In an intense battle under the lights, the American eighth seed overturned a one-set deficit to prevail 6-7 (4-7), 7-6 (7-3), 6-3 after three hours of action.
The victory, sealed shortly before 1 a.m. local time, marked Anisimova’s second straight Grand Slam final and a chance for redemption after her crushing 6-0, 6-0 loss to Iga Swiatek at the Wimbledon final just eight weeks ago.
While many doubted how she would respond to such a humbling defeat, the 24-year-old has shown impressive resilience to bounce back stronger.
A journey of redemption and resilience
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Earlier in the tournament, Anisimova avenged her Wimbledon heartbreak by ousting Swiatek in what she called “the most meaningful victory” of her career. That result gave her fresh belief, and against Osaka, she displayed nerves of steel. She powered through 11 service breaks and relied on her trademark backhand to dominate key rallies.
Her story is even more remarkable given her struggles off the court. After a seven-month mental health break in 2023, she fell outside the top 400. Yet within a year, she surged back into the world’s top ten, winning the biggest title of her career in Qatar and showing the determination that now has her one match away from Grand Slam glory.
On the other side of the net, Osaka’s journey was equally compelling. Returning from maternity leave ranked outside the top 800, the Japanese star struggled for form but rediscovered her rhythm after parting ways with coach Patrick Mouratoglou and joining Tomasz Wiktorowski. Her powerful run in New York reminded fans of her golden years between 2018 and 2021, and although the fairytale ended in the semifinals, she left with optimism.
Sabalenka awaits in blockbuster final
Awaiting Anisimova is world number one Aryna Sabalenka, who overcame Jessica Pegula 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 in another spirited semifinal. Sabalenka’s composure, which wavered in earlier Slams this year, held firm as she sealed her sixth consecutive hard-court major final.
Both women now prepare for Saturday’s showdown, with Sabalenka aiming for her fourth Slam title and Anisimova chasing her first.
Tags: Amanda Anisimova, #USOpen, US Open, Aryna Sabalenka, Naomi Osaka, Patrick Mouratoglou, Tomasz Wiktorowski. Jessica Pegula.
