Four Semifinalists: Overcoming Doubt, Finding Deliverance
For defending US Open champion and world number one Aryna Sabalenka, 2025 had been a productive yet frustrating year—two losses in Slam finals, another in the semis, all of them three-set defeats at the hands of an inspired American. Facing Amanda Anisimova, who’d beaten her in the semis of Wimbledon, Sabalenka avenged that loss to earn a redemptive 6-3, 7-6 (3) victory. Largely absent were the emotional swings that have frequently surfaced during Sabalenka’s matches.
“Going into this final I decided for myself that I’m going to control my emotions,” she said after the final. “I’m not going to let them take control over me, and doesn’t matter what happens in the match.”
Another fascinating aspect was how Sabalenka’s rarely seen or even necessary defensive skills helped her repeatedly track down Anisimova’s powerful drives and eventually extract an error. And, per usual, she hit plenty of forceful shots. It all added up to a fourth major singles title. Not since Serena Williams’ 2012-14 three-peat has a woman successfully defended a US Open singles title.
To think that just over two years ago, Anisimova was out of tennis, taking college classes. But now, having reached two straight Grand Slam finals, Anisimova is right in the thick of the career she appeared on the path to having after winning the US Open junior title in 2017. Despite ending up one victory short of a first singles major, Anisimova’s US Open run was glorious. Decide for yourself which of her victories was more significant—a quarterfinal win over Iga Swiatek, who’d double-bageled her in the Wimbledon final; or a dramatic comeback versus Naomi Osaka in the semis.
She was also certainly glad to have competed more effectively in the final. “I’ve tried to turn everything around for myself,” said after the final. “Obviously today was better than my last final, but yeah, again, today was a really tough match.”
How well Anisimova builds off her two Slam runs will surely be one of the more fascinating storylines for the balance of 2025 and into ’26.
Playing her best day-in and day-out tennis since winning the 2021 Australian Open, Osaka’s resurgent run to the semis showcased a highly effective mix of power and poise. This was most notable during her Labor Day, round of 16 win over Coco Gauff. Greatly aided by her new coach, Tomasz Wiktorowski, Osaka throughout the tournament was both appropriately focused inside the lines and wise enough to view it with perspective and even humor.
Asked following her semifinal loss to Anisimova what her next Labubu doll would have been, Osaka said, “Oh, my God, the most devastating question. . . Honestly, I’m fine losing, but don’t ask me about this Labubu, man.”
As is the case for Anisimova, Osaka’s next six months intrigue.
Having not gone past the round of 16 at a major this season, it would hardly have been surprising to see Jessica Pegula eliminated early at the US Open. It didn’t go that way at all. Reaching the semis without the loss of a set, Pegula took out a pair of two-time Slam singles winners, Victoria Azarenka and Barbora Krejcikova. For the second year in a row, though, her New York campaign was ended by Sabalenka.
Following that match, Pegula said, “Considering where my summer started and how it was going, how it was trending, I’m happy to walk away with putting in the effort that I was able to put in tonight against, you know, the best player in the world right now.”
Week after week, akin to such accomplished grinders as David Ferrer and Arantxa Sanchez Vicario, Pegula continues to plug away and impress with her strong work ethic, clean ball-striking skills, and no-nonsense attitude towards competition.