Sabalenka is the first player to defend her title at Arthur Ashe stadium since Serena Williams did it in 2014.
The Belarusian's fourth Grand Slam title is, however, her first for the year. There have been final losses in both the Australian Open and the French Championships, and in the summer's Wimbledon, she was eliminated already in the semifinals after a loss to Anisimova.
It's completely crazy. This makes everything worth it, said Sabalenka in her victory interview.
Tiebreak master
Sabalenka did not make many mistakes in her third final for the year. At least not in the beginning. The first set was over in under 40 minutes. It was only when she served to win at 5–4 in the second set that the nerves seemed to catch up.
Anisimova could break and take the set to a tiebreak. The season has, however, shown that Sabalenka is something of a specialist in tiebreaks (19–0 since February) and a quarter of an hour after she threw away her initial chance of victory, she could collapse on the court as a champion again.
I love playing here, I love the support. It feels like we have built up a relationship where you give me so much support, said Sabalenka to the audience.
"You will win"
She then continued to promise that the home hope Anisimova will take her share of victories.
I know how it hurts to lose, but believe me, you will win a Grand Slam.
The 24-year-old Anisimova has now lost two consecutive Grand Slam finals. In Wimbledon, it was a humiliating 0–6, 0–6 loss to Iga Swiatek.
The American thanked the around 24,000 fans on home soil before she praised her opponent.
You are fantastic. I am so impressed by what you have achieved.
Linnéa Engholm/TT
Facts: Women's winners in US Open
TT
2025: Aryna Sabalenka, neutral
2024: Aryna Sabalenka, neutral
2023: Coco Gauff, USA
2022: Iga Swiatek, Poland
2021: Emma Raducanu, Great Britain
2020: Naomi Osaka, Japan
2019: Bianca Andreescu, Canada
2018: Naomi Osaka, Japan
2017: Sloane Stephens, USA
2016: Angelique Kerber, Germany.
