The US Open women’s final is set as America’s Amanda Anisimova will face defending champion Aryna Sabalenka for the title on Saturday. Sabalenka defeated Jessica Pegula in three sets in a thrilling semifinal, before Anisimova beat Naomi Osaka in similarly thrilling fashion. Anisimova is going for her first Grand Slam title.
Both players had a tough road to this point, earning comeback wins in the semifinal after dropping the first set. It’s the first time in five years that both women’s semifinals at the US Open have gone to three sets, with a pair in incredible marathon matches.
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Amanda Anisimova pulls off improbable comeback over Naomi Osaka in midnight match
In a high-intensity match that went nearly to 1 a.m. ET in New York, Anisimova emerged triumphant over Osaka, 6-7 (4), 7-6 (3), 6-3. Anisimova ends an incredible run from Osaka, who has had her best tournament in four years, and who nearly went a stunning 5-0 on major semifinals.
In the first set, Anisimova swung a three-game comeback to take a 6-5 lead, before Osaka came back to force a tiebreak. And though Osaka took an early lead in the tiebreaker, Anisimova nearly stole it from her with another comeback. But the Japanese star locked in to win the set.
In the second, the American once again pushed against Osaka’s lead to eventually force a second tiebreak. But this time, it was Anisimova who pulled to a lead, and eventually got the tiebreak to keep the match going.
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Both Anisimova and Osaka got visibly frustrated in the second set. But in the third, Anisimova stayed calm, chipping away at a fading Osaka and holding on for the comeback win.
Anisimova played the best match of her career on Wednesday, bouncing Iga Swiatek in straight sets, and had another intense match against Osaka on Thursday. Now, on Saturday, she will face Sabalenka in her quest for her first major title.
Aryna Sabalenka defeats Jessica Pegula
In Thursday’s opening semifinal match, world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka defeated No. 4 Jessica Pegula, another American, for the second consecutive year. This time she won by scores of 4-6, 6-3, 6-4.
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After losing in straight sets last year, Pegula rallied from a 4-2 deficit to win the first set, 6-4. Against Sabalenka’s powerful serves and forehands, Pegula maintained her calm, sticking with an approach to mix up her shots to get Sabalenka moving around the court.
However, Sabalenka came back strong in the second set. Changing up with a softer touch at the net threw Pegula off as Sabalenka took a 3-0 lead. Sabalenka showed frustration at not being able to put the second set away quickly, but maintained composure to win, 6-3.
That continued in the third set as Sabalenka controlled with her serve and Pegula couldn’t create the long rallies she needed. Sabalenka never relinquished control.
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Before match point, Sabalenka defiantly clapped her racket to the crowd. She then fired a forehand past Pegula and let a victorious primal scream into the air.
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