"Anisimova avenges Wimbledon loss, defeats Swiatek to reach US Open semifinals"

Amanda Anisimova delivered a career-defining performance on Wednesday in New York, overcoming her Wimbledon disappointment with a commanding 6-4, 6-3 victory over Iga Swiatek in just one hour and 36 minutes to reach her first US Open semi-final. Just eight weeks after suffering a lopsided loss to the Polish star at the All England Club, the 24-year-old American showcased relentless determination and bold shot-making to exact revenge.

Swiatek, a six-time major champion and 2022 US Open winner, initially seemed poised to dominate again, breaking early to extend her winning streak in their head-to-head matchups to 13 games. But Anisimova responded emphatically, converting her third break point with a thunderous overhead forehand that electrified the Arthur Ashe Stadium crowd, ensuring this match would be nothing like their July encounter.

The first set was tightly contested, with Anisimova saving a break point with a precise down-the-line backhand at 2-2, while Swiatek countered with her finest moment—a 17-shot rally capped by a forehand winner—to stay within reach at 3-4. Serving at 4-5, Swiatek faced two set points, and Anisimova clinched the opener when the Pole sent a forehand long. In just 50 minutes, the American had seized control, dominating her opponent’s second serve with her trademark aggressive baseline play.

Swiatek briefly regained momentum in the second set, breaking early for a 2-0 lead, but Anisimova refused to relent. She held serve from 15-30 and then unleashed a blistering forehand return to earn two break points in the fourth game. A powerful backhand secured the break, and from that point on, the American never relinquished her grip on the match.

As Swiatek’s first-serve accuracy faltered under pressure, her typically unshakable demeanor began to waver. Serving at 3-4, she succumbed to the pressure again, double-faulting for the third time in the set to surrender the decisive break.

Moments later, Anisimova sealed her semi-final spot with a net-cord-assisted backhand winner. "Playing here is incredible, and I feel like I’m on the best run of my career," she said afterward. "When I arrived, I just hoped to get through a round. This has been beyond my dreams, and to bounce back after Wimbledon means so much. I’ve put in so much effort to improve, and today showed me what I’m capable of."

She added, "From the beginning, I tried to stay fired up. She’s one of the toughest opponents I’ve ever played, and I knew I’d have to fight for every point. It might not have gone to three sets, but it was a real battle for me."

For Anisimova, who took a break for mental health reasons in 2023 and only recently returned to the top 50, the victory was both a personal breakthrough and a historic achievement. Already a Wimbledon finalist and now a US Open semi-finalist, she continues to prove her resilience and talent at the highest level.