🎾 What a match! Aryna Sabalenka powered through the U.S. Open final on Saturday, beating American Amanda Anisimova 6-3, 7-6(3) to defend her title and claim her 4th Grand Slam crown.
The No.1-ranked Belarusian was on 🔥, serving bombs and keeping errors to a minimum – that is, until the nail-biting second-set tiebreak. Sabalenka twice held match points at 5-4, but a misstep on an overhead volley gave Anisimova new life.
With the crowd at Arthur Ashe Stadium on its feet, the 24-year-old American stormed back to 5-5, fist-pumping and soaking up the cheers. But Sabalenka, known for her mental toughness, regrouped and dominated the tiebreak, extending her staggering 2023 tiebreak record to 21-1.
By winning back-to-back U.S. Opens, Sabalenka became the first woman since Serena Williams (2012–2014) to pull off the feat in New York. It was also a sweet escape from becoming the first player to lose three major finals in one season since Justine Henin in 2006.
“All those tough lessons were worth this one,” Sabalenka admitted, wiping away tears and lifting the trophy with a triumphant smile.
This victory caps an eventful year: runner-up finishes at the Australian Open and French Open, a rough exit at Wimbledon against the same opponent, and now this historic win in Flushing Meadows. 🌟
Reference(s):
Sabalenka defeats Anisimova to defend U.S. Open title, 4th at a major
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