Reigning champion Alina Sabalenka defeated Jessica Pegra, but Amanda Anishimova upset Naomi Osaka to open our first.
Released on September 5th, 2025
Amanda Anishimova gathers from the set to defeat four-time Grand Slam champions 6-7 (4) 7-6 (3) 6-3 to reach the US Open Final, where they face holder Alina Sabalenka for another shot at Maiden’s Major Crown.
“Oh, my God. That means the world,” the 24-year-old said Thursday after reaching her first final at Flushing Meadows.
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“I’m trying to handle it now. It’s definitely a dream come true. This has been my dream forever to be in the US. It’s an open final and hope is to be a champion.”
Two-time US Open Champion Osaka has played in her first major semi-finals since 2021 and embraced a great opportunity for Primetime Glare at Arthur Ashe Stadium.
The pair traded two breaks on a tight opening set, and after a delayed line call by the automated system, Osaka refocused and made a loud roar as Anishimoba hit a shot into the net at the set point on a tiebreak.
However, the 23rd species struggled to advance momentum in the next set.
After players traded ferocious hits in 12 matches in the next set, Anishimoba attacked with a tiebreak and dragged the match to the decider.
The eighth seed, losing 6-0, 6-0 to Iga Swiatek in the Wimbledon Final two months ago, surged 4-1 thanks to a forehand winner, from which she grabbed her nerves and closed the victory, reaching the back-to-back Grand Slam Final.
“She really made it to the finals. I didn’t think I’d pass the finish line. I tried to dig deeper. It was a huge battle,” Anishimova added.
“I tried to stay positive. There was a lot of nerves at first. That’s what I’m trying to tackle. Yeah, this tournament means so much for me.
“In the end, you’re just trying to fight your path. I’m enjoying the moment. We were both playing great tennis. But we were and we just kept going.”
Sabalenka continues to live her dream of back-to-back
Reigning champion Sabalenka came from behind and defeated America’s fourth seed Jessica Pegra in three sets to return to the US Open Finals.
Sabalenka, the world’s number one, overcomes Pegra 4-6, 6-3, and 6-4 in last year’s final.
This is Belarus’ third consecutive appearance in the Flushing Meadows Finals.
“It was a really tough match. She played incredible tennis as usual. I had to work really hard to get this victory,” Sabalenka said.
“I’m so happy to be back in the final and hopefully I can go again.”
Sabalenka, 27, is about to become the first player to win a consecutive single title in New York since Serena Williams won three consecutive games between 2012 and 2014.
She currently opens the finals in four of her final five grand slams, but hasn’t added to the distance of three majors since winning the 2024 US Open.
“I’ll go out on Saturdays and fight for every point like the last point of my life,” she said.
