Aryna Sabalenka secures her 100th Grand Slam victory by overcoming Anisimova. Read about the match’s pivotal moments and Sabalenka’s impressive performance.
Introduction:
Top seed and world No.1 Aryna Sabalenka successfully defended her US Open title on Saturday night with a powerful and resilient performance, defeating American eighth seed Amanda Anisimova 6-3, 7-6(3). With the win, Aryna Sabalenka became the first woman since Serena Williams in 2014 to claim back-to-back singles titles at Flushing Meadows, adding her name to an elite list of repeat champions. The victory also marked additional milestones: it was her 100th career Grand Slam main-draw match victory and delivered the tour-leading win number 56 of the season. For Aryna Sabalenka, it was not just another trophy, but also a redemption following near-misses at earlier majors this year.
See also:Â Aryna Sabalenka Storms Back to Reach 2025 US Open Final
A Champion’s Mentality on Display
Aryna Sabalenka has built her game around power, aggression, and intensity. Against Anisimova, she displayed all of those qualities, but also something that has sometimes eluded her in the past—unwavering focus in the biggest of moments. Having lost in the finals of both the Australian Open and Roland Garros earlier this year, there had been whispers about whether she could close out on tennis’s grandest stages in 2025.
On Saturday in New York, she silenced those doubts. From the first game, Sabalenka dictated play with thunderous serves and forehand strikes, pushing Anisimova deep behind the baseline. While the American fought valiantly and had her moments of brilliance, the defending champion’s depth, consistency, and sheer force of will proved decisive.
First Set Firepower
The match kicked off under the bright lights of Arthur Ashe Stadium, with an expectant crowd creating an electric atmosphere. Aryna Sabalenka wasted little time imposing herself, breaking Anisimova’s serve in the fourth game. The Belarusian’s return game, often underrated, shone early as she punished second serves and forced errors from the American.
Anisimova struggled to find rhythm in the opening set. Though her flat backhand pierced through the court on occasion, too many unforced errors tilted the balance toward Sabalenka. The reigning champion closed out the first set 6-3 with an ace down the T, fist-pumping as the crowd roared in approval.
A Fierce Fight in the Second Set
If the first set showcased Sabalenka’s dominance, the second highlighted Anisimova’s resilience. Refusing to let the final slip away quietly, the American raised her level. She struck cleaner groundstrokes, improved her first-serve percentage, and matched Sabalenka in baseline rallies.
At 4-3, Anisimova broke Sabalenka for the first time in the match, bringing the stadium to life. For a moment, it seemed as though the final could tilt in her favor and force a decider. But great champions rise under pressure, and Sabalenka immediately responded by breaking back.
The set pushed into a tense tiebreak, where Aryna Sabalenka’s experience and power shone through. She raced to a 5-2 lead with aggressive first-strike tennis and sealed the match 7-3 in the breaker with another booming forehand. Her scream of triumph as the final ball flew long captured not just the moment but the journey of an athlete who had come so close earlier in the season, only to deliver when it mattered most.
Aryna Sabalenka Joins Exclusive Company
By defending her crown, Aryna Sabalenka became the first woman to win back-to-back US Open singles championships in more than a decade. Serena Williams last achieved the feat when she captured three in a row from 2012–2014. To follow in Williams’ footsteps puts Sabalenka in rare company and further solidifies her status as the dominant force in women’s tennis today.
The victory also brought her fourth career Grand Slam title, with two in New York alongside earlier triumphs in Australia. For a player chasing legacy and history, the milestone of reaching 100 Grand Slam match wins adds yet another layer to her growing résumé.
What This Win Means
This triumph represents a turning point in Aryna Sabalenka’s 2025 campaign. While her consistency has been remarkable all season—with finals at two other majors—she had left the previous Grand Slam finals without the trophy. Now, with the New York crown in hand, she not only secured her first major of the year but also reaffirmed her dominance as the rightful world No.1.
Confidence will be high as she heads into the closing stretch of the season, knowing she is capable of converting pressure into performance. The manner of her win in straight sets, over a fast-rising and dangerous opponent in Amanda Anisimova, only strengthens her aura heading into future tournaments.
Amanda Anisimova’s Second Final Heartache
Though the night ended in disappointment, Amanda Anisimova deserves enormous credit for her run to the final. The 23-year-old American continues to evolve into one of the tour’s most dangerous players. Her road to the final featured big wins, and her confidence has clearly been restored after recent challenges in her career.
However, the harsh reality of tennis is that she now sits with consecutive runner-up finishes at Grand Slams. At Wimbledon earlier this summer, she suffered a crushing 6-0, 6-0 loss to Iga Swiatek in the final—a result that lingered over her coming into New York. That she reached another title match is a testament to her resilience, but falling again at the last hurdle will sting.
For Anisimova, the task ahead is clear: turn appearances into triumphs. With her natural talent, aggressive baseline game, and renewed mental strength, her time may still be coming. But at Flushing Meadows, she fell just short against the best in the world.
A Night to Remember
When Aryna Sabalenka raised her arms toward the sky and embraced the roaring Ashe Stadium crowd, it symbolized more than a title defense. It was the culmination of a year of challenges, heartbreaks, and perseverance. In reclaiming her New York crown, she showed the tennis world that resilience and belief are as much a part of being a champion as forehands and serves.
The US Open has always been a stage for stories of grit and greatness. On this night, Aryna Sabalenka wrote her chapter in bold letters—reminding the world that she is not done making history.
