Amanda Anisimova is into her first US Open semi-final after stunning Iga Swiatek 6-4 6-3 in the quarter-finals.
It was a sensational performance from Anisimova who gained revenge on Swiatek from the Wimbledon final where the American didn’t win a single game.
Despite moments of magic, Swiatek was unable to outpower Anisimova as she exits the tournament at the quarter-final stage.
Now Anisimova will face Naomi Osaka or Karolina Muchova for the chance to reach her second consecutive Grand Slam final.
For a moment it was looking like a similar result to the Wimbledon final would occur as Swiatek broke in a tight opening game to seal the perfect start for the world number two.
However, Anisimova wanted to remind the world that differences would be visible as she was determined to show what she was capable of.
That was evident in the next game when Anisimova played authoritative and proactive tennis to break back immediately.
In the middle of both sets, saw both players trade blows from the baseline as this match was about who could get the first strike in.
It looked like that would be Swiatek as the Wimbledon champion created two break points in the fifth game as she searched for the killer blow.
The Pole was to be denied by an Anisimova who’s defensive skills were far more aggressive and attack-minded.
Despite not breaking in the eighth game, Anisimova was able to raise her level of play when needed as she broke in the tenth game to claim the opening set.
After a long break, Swiatek wrestled back control of the match at the start of the second set as she broke comfortably.
However, Anisimova was confident in her capabilities and produced a sustained attack on the Swiatek defence which paid off as she broke back in the fourth game.
The middle of the set saw both players failing to resist the other’s attacking game as it would be about who could produce the fatal error.
That went to Swiatek as the Pole double faulted to give Anisimova the opportunity to serve for the match at 5-3.
On her third match point, a lucky net cord winner gave the American a landmark victory and a place in a maiden US Open semi-final.
After the match, Anisimova described her run in New York as a ‘dream’ and admitted she has used as Wimbledon as fire to fuel her US Open title charge, “Playing here is so freaking special. I’ve been having the run of my life here,” the American was quoted by the BBC sport website as saying.
“The first day I got here I was like ‘Ok, let’s try and get through one round…” This has been such a dream. To come back from Wimbledon like that is really special to me. I feel like I worked so hard to try and turn around from that and today proved everything for me – I can do it so this was really special.
“From the get-go, I was trying to fire myself up. She’s one of the toughest players I’ve ever played and I knew that I was going to have dig really deep and it was such a tough match. I know the scoreline wasn’t three sets but it truly was a battle for me.”
As for Swiatek, the wait for a second US Open title goes on as the Pole had high hopes for this year’s tournament after winning Cincinnati.
It is Anisimova who is in the last four and will now face either Naomi Osaka or Karolina Muchova on Thursday evening.
