Sabalenka Returns to U.S. Open Final, Faces Anisimova in Showdown for the Title

Defending champion Aryna Sabalenka is back in the U.S. Open women’s final, where she’ll meet Amanda Anisimova in a clash of power and resilience at Flushing Meadows.

On Thursday night, Sabalenka overcame a shaky start and some late nerves to outlast Jessica Pegula 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 in a tense semifinal battle. It was a rematch of last year’s final, and once again, Sabalenka proved steadier in the biggest moments.

The No. 1 seed had multiple chances to close the match earlier but faltered on an easy overhead and a mishit volley. Still, she regrouped, saving all four break points in the decisive set and converting her third match point to secure victory.

“I was super emotional,” Sabalenka admitted. “I just kept telling myself: one step at a time, don’t think about the past, just focus on the next point.”

When the win was sealed, she leaned back, spread her arms, and screamed to the roaring Arthur Ashe crowd.

Anisimova Stuns Osaka, Earns Second Straight Slam Final

Waiting in Saturday’s final is No. 8 seed Amanda Anisimova, who scored one of the biggest wins of her career by defeating Naomi Osaka 6-7 (4), 7-6 (3), 6-3 in a marathon that ended close to 1 a.m.

The 24-year-old American is making her second consecutive Grand Slam final after finishing runner-up at Wimbledon in July. That loss came in a one-sided match against Iga Swiatek, but Anisimova bounced back strongly in New York—beating Swiatek in the quarterfinals before eliminating Osaka.

Remarkably, Anisimova became the first player ever to beat Osaka in the late rounds of a Slam; Osaka was previously 13-0 in quarterfinals, semifinals, and finals.

“This means everything,” Anisimova said after the match. “I’ve been working so hard to get here again, and I’m ready to fight for it.”

A High-Stakes Final

Saturday’s championship will be loaded with history. Sabalenka, 27, is chasing her fourth Grand Slam title and looking to become the first woman since Serena Williams (2012–2014) to win back-to-back U.S. Opens.

Anisimova, meanwhile, is chasing her first major trophy. Born in New Jersey and raised in Florida, she is now within one win of becoming the newest American Grand Slam champion.

Pegula summed up the semifinal against Sabalenka best: “We were pushing each other every single game.”

For Sabalenka, that push continues on Saturday night against a surging Anisimova—one player looking to defend dominance, the other aiming to break through for her first taste of glory.

Summary: