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US Open Champion, Aryna Sabalenka
Defending champion, Aryna Sabalenka, retained her US Open crown when she beat home favourite, Amanda Anisimova, in the final at Flushing Meadows in New York. The Belarusian maintained a steadier level of tennis to win 6-3, 7-6 in a battle between two of the biggest ball-strikers in the women’s game.
The world number one was overcome with emotion after securing victory in a year where she had suffered defeat in two Grand Slam finals. World number 1, Sabalenka, successfully defended her title to take her Grand Slam tally to 4.
The battle between two of women’s tennis’ hardest-hitting players was a battle of resistance and confidence. American 8th seed Anisimova was not willing to give up; especially in the second set but Sabalenka was just too good and finally secured a 6-3,7-6 victory for a second consecutive US Open title.
“Well I, it’s just crazy you know all those tough lessons worth this one, and I’m speechless right now, but, first of all, I want to say congrats, Amanda on reaching back-to-back finals in the slams. I know how much it hurts losing in the finals but trust me the moment you’re going to win your first one, and you’re going to win it, you play incredible tennis, congrats to you and your team on things you’ve been able to achieve after your comeback and you’re going to enjoy it even more after these tough losses in the finals,” says Sabalenka.
ARYNA SABALENKA CLINCHES HER FOURTH GRAND SLAM TITLE! 🏆🏆🏆🏆 pic.twitter.com/r2Yo8kcfAX
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) September 6, 2025
The 27-year-old has again been the WTA Tour’s most dominant player this season but questions had been raised about her emotional composure in the latter stages of the Grand Slams after two runner-up finishes.
“I was just thinking that why would I let my emotions take control over me in those two finals? It felt like I thought that, okay, if I made it to the final, it means that I’m going to win it, you know, and I sort of didn’t expect players to come out there and to fight. You know, I thought that everything was going to go easily my way, which was a completely wrong mindset, you know? Going into this final I decided for myself that I’m going to control my emotions. I’m not going to let them take control over me, and doesn’t matter what happens in the match,” adds Sabalenka.
Anisimova played a competitive match and fought hard until the end, but she was simply too erratic against one of the best players in the world.
“Yeah, it was an amazing atmosphere, of course, and I tried to enjoy the atmosphere as much as I could. Especially in the second set when i started to come back, they were really backing me, and I think that was really helpful to try and stay in the match. I’ve been really motivated, and I really wanted to give myself the best shot in the final. I don’t know. Like, making it to the final is obviously really special, but it would have been a dream come true to make it all the way, but, yeah, I mean, of course I’m motivated, and I hope I can keep working really hard to give myself more opportunities to be in more and more finals,” says
After Sabalenka clinched the title with a 100th Grand Slam match win, she slapped her trainer’s bald head, in what has become a traditional celebration for the twice Australian Open winner, before offering her opponent heartfelt praise.
