Aryna Sabalenka is a win away from becoming the first woman in over a decade to claim back-to-back US Open titles, but standing in her way is home hope Amanda Anisimova.
The world No.1 moved into her seventh Grand Slam final after outlasting Jessica Pegula 4-6, 6-3, 6-4, in a roller-coaster encounter where she dropped serve twice during the opening set before remaining unbroken in the next two. Sabalenka has become the third woman since 1988 to reach the finals of both the Australian Open and the US Open in three consecutive seasons. Following in the footsteps of Steffi Graf (1988-90) and Martina Hingis (1997-99).
“I really played great tennis. I think I handled that pressure really well. I’m super proud of this win,” Sabaleka told reporters in New York.
“In this match, I was just trying to take one step at a time. I was, like, it’s okay if you didn’t close it from the first match point. You’re playing great tennis. Just go try and be better.” She added
Despite her success on the Tour this season, Sabalenka is yet to claim a major title after falling short at both the Australian Open and French Open. At Wimbledon, she was beaten in the semi-finals. One of the most talked-about moments of her season occurred in Paris, when she criticized her performance and later suggested that this was the reason why Coco Gauff won the title. Sabalenka later clarified her comments and apologised to her peer.
“What happened in Paris is definitely not gonna happen here,” she states.
“I learned that lesson, and I will never behave that way.
“I was super emotional. I let it go and let emotions take control over me, and it’s not who I am. It’s never gonna happen again.”
Sabalenka heads into Sunday’s final with a 9-4 winning record against top 10 players this season.
Anisimova awaits
Standing in Sabalenka’s way of the title is 24-year-old Anisimova, who also had to come back from a set down to win her latest match. Taking on two-time champion Naomi Osaka, the American world No.9 bounced back to prevail 6-7(4), 7-6(3), 6-3, after almost three hours of play. The encounter was full of twists and turns, especially in the second set, where Anisimova had a break advantage three times and lost all of them.
“It was a really tough match. Most of the time I thought that it’s going to slip away from me, and I’m not going to make it into the final,” Anisimova reflected afterwards.
“At some points, I was trying to accept that, as tough as that was.
“In the later moments of the second set, I was trying to remind myself what was on the line and the opportunity I have.
“I stepped onto the court, and I felt like I wasn’t playing my tennis because I was nervous, and I was letting the stress get to me a little bit, but then I tried to dig deep and find my game. I felt throughout the match that I was able to find it more and more. The most important thing was that I kept fighting.”
It is the second major event in a row that Anisimova has reached the final match. At Wimbledon, she was thrashed 6-0, 6-0, in the final by Iga Swiatek. A player whom she has beaten in this tournament.
Although this time round, Anisimova says she has more self-belief, which she hopes will help her against Sabalenka.
“I feel like when I was at Wimbledon, every single match was kind of like a surprise to me. I was shocked with every match that I won,” she explained.
“But here (at the US Open) it feels more like I believe in myself, and I’m able to do it.
“I’m gonna go about it like it’s been every other day. Obviously, I’m excited, but I’m kind of shutting off all the noise around me and deleting everything from my phone to just really focus.”
Anisimova was a teenage prodigy after capturing the US Open girls title in 2017 before recording her first win over a top-10 player the following year at the age of 16. During her career, she has faced challenges on and off the court. Her father and long-time coach suddenly died when she was only 17 and she has also previously taken a break from tennis due to mental health reasons.
“The only thing I ever envision is just me winning the tournament. I feel like I can only really visualize myself and being able to lift the trophy, and that’s always been kind of the vision I have had,” she said.
The upcoming showdown will be the 10th tour-level meeting between the two. Sabalenka currently leads their head-to-head 6-3, but it was Anisimova who won their most recent meeting at Wimbledon, sealing victory in three sets.
This year’s champion will earn $5,000,000 in prize money.
