Aryna Sabalenka claimed the fourth grand slam title of her career by defeating Amanda Anisimova in straight sets in New York.

Aryna Sabalenka claimed her fourth grand slam title and her second straight US Open title, triumphing over Amanda Anisimova with a score of 6-3 7-6. The exceptional hard court record of the world number one keeps growing.

Sabalenka took a fairly uncomplicated path to the final but struggled in a nerve-wracking semifinal against Jessica Pegula, winning in three sets to secure her spot in the final and vie for the title.

Anisimova faced a more challenging situation, needing to battle Iga Swiatek and Naomi Osaka consecutively. Having solidified her position as one of the top contenders on tour, she advanced to her second straight slam final.

Anisimova had a solid head-to-head advantage against Sabalenka prior to the match, with a 6-3 lead—no other active female player has more victories over the Belarusian. The most recent occurred in the unforgettable semifinal at Wimbledon, which Anisimova claimed.

Sabalenka delivered one of the most polished and error-free performances of her career, staying composed and making sure not to squander points, consistently applying pressure on Anisimova.

Anisimova aimed to score quickly, and although she delivered some fantastic winners at the start, clear nerves were still evident. Nonetheless, she received the crowd's backing and remained within range early in the first set.

Anisimova's most powerful asset is her exceptional backhand, which helped her stay competitive in the second set after Sabalenka was dominant in the first. Nonetheless, Sabalenka executed the correct strategy to prevent Anisimova from having any neutral shots to capitalize on for easy winners throughout the majority of the match.

Having been taken to a tiebreak in the second set, Sabalenka focused intensely and made sure to showcase her finest tennis during that time. She dashed ahead to a 6-1 advantage in the tiebreak.

Sabalenka and Anisimova hug at the net after the Belarusian athlete clinched the match point and her championship.

An emotional Anisimova felt dejected after yet another defeat in a slam final, but offered kind remarks about her rival. Even with the defeat, she ascends to fourth place in the rankings, a personal best.

Sabalenka also secured the title in New York in 2024: this marked her third consecutive final and second victory at the US Open. She firmly retains her position as the world number one.