Sabalenka defeats Anisimova 6-4, 7-6 for second consecutive US Open title

Aryna Sabalenka from Belarus is the world #1 and the defending US Open champion. She was also 0-2 in grand slam finals this season and fell in the semis in three to NJ native and world #9, Amanda Anismimova.

Although Anisimova failed to win a game against Iga Swiatek in the championship match at the All England Club, it served as an impetus to improve not only her movement and physicality but also her energy and body language through positive affirmations.

Clearly, she has found the secret sauce. Anisimova has made back-to-back grand slam finals, and en route to the title match in New York, dispatched three seeded players, including Swiatek in the quarters in straights. Equally impressive was her come-from-behind victory in the semis against a resurgent Naomi Osaka.

(Elsa/Getty Images)

While the 24-year-old led Sabalenka 6-3 in the head-to-head, she knew her opponent was hungry for payback and determined to defend her title. This was Sabalenka’s third consecutive US Open final.

Sabalenka served first and though she donated a double fault and faced three deuce and three break points, she held while Anisimova gifted three unforced errors and dumped serve. The world #1 made 4/6 first serves but was broken following two consecutive and remarkable winners from her opponent.

Anisimova, with the NY crowd firmly in her camp, opened with a blistering backhand down the line and with a forehand down the line, held to 30 to consolidate the break. Level at 2-2, Sabalenka faced a 0-30 then a break point and dropped serve after whiffing a backhand, while Anisimova donated four consecutive unforced errors to give back the break.

The defending champion missed 3/6 first serves but held to 30 for 4-3 while Anisimova, serving with new balls, opened with an ace but followed with two double faults to drop serve. Sabalenka served for the set and clinched it with a crisp crosscourt backhand and two consecutive forehand errors from Anisimova.

The world #9 served first in the second and though she gifted two additional double faults and faced three deuce points, held with an ace up the tee! Sabalenka opened with another brilliant backhand crosscourt and held at love to level.

Anisimova continued to struggle with her serve and off the ground. She committed two additional forehand errors and was broken when Sabalenka ripped a backhand pass down the line. Sabalenka opened the fourth with a fantastic forehand inside-out and consolidated the break for 3-1 with a crosscourt backhand winner.

While Sabalenka seemed settled, Anisimova appeared anxious. She opened the fifth with a blistering backhand inside-in and calmed any lingering nerves with an easy hold.

It was now Sabalenka’s turn to succumb to pressure. She faced a triple break point following her second double fault and dumped serve when her opponent pummeled another backhand down the line.

As the crowd ramped up their support for Anisimova, she crumbled and gave back the break following three consecutive unforced errors, including her fifth double fault. Sabalenka struck a terrific backhand down the line and a 112mph body serve to consolidate the break for 5-3.

Anisimova, serving to stay in the match, missed 4/6 first serves yet held to 30, forcing Sabalenka to serve it out. The world #1 faced 0-30, then break point when she netted an overhead smash and dropped serve with a netted backhand.

In a nanosecond, a switch was flipped. The American, basking in the support of the partisan crowd, opened the eleventh with a monster serve up the tee and though she gifted another double fault, held to 30 to lead 6-5.

Sabalenka, with her back to the wall, hit two consecutive winners, including an ace out wide, and held easily to 15 to force the breaker. It looked promising for the American as she opened with an ace, but as the unforced errors, including her seventh double fault, continued to accrue, she trailed 1-5. Sabalenka reached 6-1 with an incredible inside-out forehand winner and secured the breaker 7-3 and the trophy when Anisimova’s backhand went wide.

It was a high-octane heavyweight title match between two worthy opponents. Sabalenka, given her experience in grand slam finals, handled the occasion and her emotions better than her opponent. Sabalenka is the first woman to successfully defend her US Open title since Serena Williams (2012-2014).

Now with four grand slam titles (all on hardcourt) on her resume, she’ll certainly look to the red clay of Roland Garros as her next challenge. Agonizingly close this past spring (l. Gauff), next year at the slams she’ll utilize the lessons learned.

Today, on Arthur Ashe Stadium with the roof closed, she finished with one ace, two double faults, and won 60% of first and, more importantly, 62% of second serve points. She saved 3/7 break points while converting 5/6. While her opponent struck more winners (22/13) she also gifted almost twice the unforced errors (29/15).

Sabalenka truly played within herself and the lines. She intermittently dialed back the aggression while dictating play and subduing her opponent. It was first class tennis from the first in class.