Anisimova Stuns Osaka to Reach First US Open Final
Amanda Anisimova has written one of the most compelling chapters of this year’s US Open, and it came at the expense of Naomi Osaka. In a thrilling semifinal clash under the lights at Arthur Ashe Stadium, Anisimova battled through nerves, frustration, and a rocky start to defeat the four-time Grand Slam champion in three sets: 6-7, 7-6, 6-3. The match, which stretched to nearly three hours and finished around 1 a.m., marked Anisimova’s first-ever trip to the US Open final.
The story of this match was one of resilience. Early on, it looked like Anisimova might unravel. Errors flew off her racket, and at one point she vented her frustration openly toward her team. Osaka, steady and confident in the opening stages, capitalized on those mistakes and edged out the first set in a tiebreak. But if Anisimova was shaken, she refused to stay down. Slowly, point by point, she began to settle into her rhythm.
By the second set, her trademark aggressive baseline game began to click. She punished Osaka’s second serves and took control of rallies with her first-strike tennis. Even when she failed to serve out the set, Anisimova reset and produced a brilliant tiebreak to level the match. The shift in momentum was clear. From then on, Osaka looked the more unsettled of the two, shaking her head and gesturing toward her box, while Anisimova gained confidence with each clean strike.
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The final set belonged to the American. Her ball speed, shot placement, and ability to step inside the court smothered Osaka. And when the chance came to serve out the match at 5-3, she showed nerves of steel. A mix of bold backhands down the line and heavy forehands secured the victory, sending her to her first US Open final. Overcome with emotion, she dropped to her knees in disbelief.
What makes this moment even more remarkable is the context. Just seven weeks ago, Anisimova had endured a crushing 6-0, 6-0 loss to Iga Świątek at Wimbledon. Many wondered how she would recover from such a lopsided defeat. But instead of being broken by it, she sought therapy, rebuilt her confidence, and used the setback as fuel. This week in New York, she not only avenged that loss to Świątek in the quarterfinals but also took down Osaka, another multiple-time champion.
After the match, Anisimova admitted she wasn’t sure she would cross the finish line. She described the moment as a dream come true, adding that winning the US Open has always been her ultimate goal. She also praised Osaka, acknowledging her remarkable comeback to top-level tennis after becoming a mother.
For Osaka, the loss did not bring despair. She spoke with grace afterward, saying she gave everything she had and felt inspired to keep working harder. Her words reflected both respect for Anisimova’s performance and her own determination to return stronger.
Now, Anisimova advances to face Aryna Sabalenka, the world No. 1 and defending champion, in what promises to be a fierce final. No matter the outcome, this run has already cemented Anisimova’s status as one of the most compelling stories in tennis this year.
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