More than an hour into her first US Open semifinal, Amanda Anisimova was still struggling to find her rhythm. Facing intense pressure on one of the biggest stages of her career, her racket produced a flurry of mistakes, and frustration boiled over toward her team.
Yet, after everything she has endured on and off the court, Anisimova didn’t reach this point just to crumble. From a shaky start, she displayed remarkable resilience, surviving a grueling, high-stakes battle that ended close to 1 a.m. with a 6-7 (4), 7-6 (3), 6-3 victory over Naomi Osaka after two hours and 56 minutes. This win secured her first-ever US Open final appearance.
Just a day after securing the biggest triumph of her career—defeating six-time Grand Slam champion and her Wimbledon conqueror, Iga Swiatek—Anisimova delivered yet another monumental win over another decorated champion, advancing to her second straight Grand Slam final. Next, she will face world No. 1 and defending champion Aryna Sabalenka, who battled past Jessica Pegula 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 to reach her third consecutive New York final.
Even amid her early struggles, Anisimova dominated the baseline, relentlessly targeting Osaka’s second serve and overwhelming her with aggressive shotmaking. As she settled in, her precision and mental strength carried her through. “It means everything,” said Anisimova. “I’m still trying to process it. This has been my dream forever—to be in the US Open final. Of course, the goal is to win it.”
In many ways, Osaka and Anisimova share a bond. Both have been vocal about their mental health challenges and have often praised each other. Their meeting on such a grand stage at Arthur Ashe Stadium felt fitting.
“Naomi is playing incredible tennis,” Anisimova said. “She’s back where she belongs. I told her how proud I am of her—coming back after having a baby and competing at this level is unbelievable. She pushed me hard. I wasn’t sure I’d make it, but I dug deep and fought until the end.”
After defying expectations with her stunning revenge win over Swiatek, Anisimova entered this match as the higher-ranked player with a Grand Slam final at stake. The pressure showed early as she opened with a string of tense errors.
Though Osaka held her nerve on serve and capitalized on Anisimova’s inconsistency, the lack of rhythm from her opponent left her unsettled.
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