Amanda Anisimova Challenges Aryna Sabalenka In The 2025 US Open Final

Amanda Anisimova qualified for the final of the women's singles US Open 2025 after defeating Naomi Osaka 6-7(4), 7-6(3), 6-3 in the semifinals, Friday morning WIB (5/9). (ANTARA PHOTO/XINHUA/Li Ying/nym)

JAKARTA - US tennis player Amanda Anisimova managed to beat Japanese tennis player Naomi Osaka in the semifinals, Thursday night (4/9) local time or Friday WIB, to reach the final of the US Open 2025 meeting Aryna Sabalenka.

In this tight match, eighth seed Anisimova defeated Osaka's 23rd seed with a score of 6-7(4), 7-6(3), 6-3.

"Naomi played an amazing tennis game and he returned to his original place. And I told him I was very proud of him after giving birth and playing at this level. Crazy," said Anisimova after the match, as broadcast on the official US Open website.

At one point, the two-time US Open champion Osaka was only four points adrift to secure a ticket to the final. However, at another point, Anisimova managed to easily win two break points.

The first set ended in a tiebreak which Osaka won, 7-4. After claiming the advantage, the second set is a set that will haunt Osaka, who has eliminated three higher seeds to reach the semifinals.

When Osaka served at 6-5 in the second set, Anisimova remained positive by continuing to launch her strong groundstroke.

"I'm not sure I'm going to finish line up. I'm trying to hold on deeper and it's a very big fight," said Anisimova.

"We both played incredible tennis. I think how do we do these punches? But we did, and we continued to drive."

When Osaka fired forehands that hit the net in the fourth game of the third set, Anisimova got a break-rucial. He quickly took points towards the finish line to pack the win after nearly three hours of the fight.

"In the end, I'm just trying to fight and enjoy this moment," said Anisimova, who scored 50 winners while Osaka was only 32.

"This means a lot. I'm trying to process it now. It's really a dream come true."

"It's been my dream all this time to be in the US Open final, and obviously the hope is to become a champion. But I'm now in the final and I'm going to try to get ready," said the 24-year-old.

Anisimova had major hurdles to climb against defending champion Sabalenka in the US Open title fight, after the world No.1 hit its third straight final in New York.

The two have met nine times, with Anisimova holding a head-to-head advantage convincingly 6-3. In the last semifinals of Wimbledon, Anisimova eliminated Sabalenka with 6-4, 4-6, 6-4, to reach its first Grand Slam final.

They also met twice in this year's major tournament, with Sabalenka winning 7-5, 6-3 in the last 16 of Roland Garros and winning 6-3, 6-2 in the same round at the Australian Open.