NEW YORK. — World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka retained her US Open crown with a battling 6-3, 7-6(3) win over American eighth seed Amanda Anisimova in the US Open women’s final on Saturday (Sunday in Manila), underlining her claim as the modern queen of the hardcourt.
The Belarusian has not missed a hardcourt major final since 2022. Her latest trophy brings her Grand Slam haul to four, as she became the first woman to win back-to-back US Opens since Serena Williams claimed three straight from 2012 to 2014.
The clash between two of tennis’ hardest-hitting, biggest-serving women boiled down to unforced errors as Sabalenka kept them to 15 compared to 29 from the racket of her opponent.
“I want to thank everyone who came here, who flew in to be there in my box,” said Sabalenka, who fell to her knees after clinching victory with an unreturnable serve and embraced her coaches in the stands in a scene of utter joy.
“I’m going to reach a lot more finals and I don’t care where you are in the world, I want you in my box.”
Playing in only her second major final, New Jersey-born Anisimova had the partisan fans at the famed Arthur Ashe Stadium on her side but could never hang onto the momentum.
“It’s been a great summer, losing in two finals in a row is great, but it’s also super hard,” said 24-year-old Anisimova, who was left in tears yet again after the heartbreak of her 6-0, 6-0 drubbing in the Wimbledon final two months ago.
“I didn’t fight hard enough for my dreams today.”
Ticket-toting fans ducked a sudden downpour at Flushing Meadows that forced organizers to put on the retractable roof at Ashe, where the usual array of A-listers packed the stands.
The rain slowed down as the players warmed up and Sabalenka brought a perfect storm of tenacious tennis to her opponent.
Sabalenka, 27, had ice in her veins as she saved three break points in a nervy first game and Anisimova handed over the early break when she sent a shot past the baseline in the second.
Anisimova hit her stride when she won a 12-shot rally with a forehand winner out of Sabalenka’s reach to break back in the third game and she went up a break as Sabalenka hit one beyond the baseline in the fifth.
