Aryna Sabalenka Defends US Open Champion Title After Defeating Ananda Anisimova

Aryna Sabalenka won the US Open 2025 (Instagram @usopen)

JAKARTA - Aryna Sabalenka achieved a brilliant score by defeating Amanda Anisimova at the US Open on Saturday, September 6 local time. She was also the first female tennis player to be able to defend her title in the tournament since Serena Williams in 2014.

Sabalenka won convincingly with a score of 6-3, 7-6(3). After topping the WTA rankings throughout the year, the 27-year-old closed it with his first Grand Slam title this season. Previously he had lost in the first two major finals of the season and reached the semifinals in the third tournament.

"All the heavy lessons are commensurate with this year," Sabalenka told the WTA, citing ANTARA September 7.

In comparison, of the 11 major tournaments he has participated in in the last three years, Sabalenka has won four titles, reaching three finals, three semifinals, and one quarter-final.

Now he has collected two titles each at the US Open and the Australian Open, reminiscent of Naomi Osaka's achievements in the 2018-2021 season, in just three years, not four years.

At the same time, this is Sabalenka's 100th victory at Grand Slam, with a winning percentage of 0.794, only losing to Iga Swiatek among other active players.

Previously, Anisimova's outstanding performance with his technique caught Sabalenka behind the baseline. However, this time the US tennis player was constantly under pressure and the result was too much error.

Anisimova finished the game with 29 mistakes on their own and only 22 wins, while Sabalenka recorded 13 wins and 15 mistakes himself.

In the end, Sabalenka managed to take advantage of a break point opportunity, winning five of six chances.

"I am amazed by what you have accomplished. Congratulations to you and your team, you guys are amazing," said Anisimova, greeting Sabalenka at the trophy handover ceremony.

With his US Open appearance, Anisimova will be at No.4 WTA, which will be released Monday 8 September.

"This is a very crazy journey," Anisimova said of her success in ranking the WTA.

Winning the first set is often crucial, but winning it at the US Open is crucial. Of the previous 30 US Open women's champions, 28 of them won the opening set.

Anisimova got up to defend his serve at the start of the second set, and Sabalenka matched him. However, while serving at 1-1, Sabalenka struggled to win a drop shot, which resulted in another break and he lasted to lead 3-1.

Anisimova rose, equalizing to 3-3. But Sabalenka defended and broke his serve to lead 4-3.

When Sabalenka served to close the match at 5-4, the 30-30 -- two more points from the title -- Sabalenka made a mistake.

Anisimova broke its service and lasted, forcing Sabalenka to serve to reach the tiebreak. Sabalenka converted the third match point when Anisimova's service return missed.