Aryna Sabalenka Celebrates U.S. Open Win, Honors Amanda Anisimova

Aryna Sabalenka, the newly crowned champion of the U.S. Open 2025, expressed admiration for her opponent Amanda Anisimova following their intense final match. The World No. 1 secured her title with a straight-sets victory, 6-3, 7-6, at the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Queens, New York, on September 6.

This win marked a significant milestone for Sabalenka, making her the first woman to defend the U.S. Open title since Serena Williams achieved the feat in 2014. After clinching the championship, Sabalenka dropped to her knees in celebration before embracing Anisimova on the court.

During an on-court interview, Sabalenka turned to Anisimova, who stood nearby, and said, “Congrats Amanda on reaching back-to-back Slam finals [Wimbledon and U.S. Open]. I know how much it hurts to lose in the final. But trust me, the moment you win your first one — and you will win it — you play incredible tennis!”

She continued, “Congrats to you and your team on everything you’ve achieved after your comeback. Girl, you’re gonna enjoy it even more after the tough losses in the final.”

Anisimova, reflecting on her own journey, acknowledged the difficulty of losing consecutive finals. “Losing in two finals in a row is great but it’s also super hard,” she stated. “I think I didn’t fight hard enough for my dreams today but I just want to say congrats to Aryna.”

At 24 years old, Anisimova has made a remarkable return to tennis after stepping away to prioritize her mental health. Following the death of her father and coach in 2019, she initially continued competing but announced a break from the sport in 2023 due to mental health struggles.

“I’ve really been struggling with my mental health and burnout since the summer of 2022,” Anisimova shared on Instagram in May 2023. “It’s become unbearable being at tennis tournaments.”

She emphasized her need for a break: “At this point, my priority is my mental well-being. I’ve worked as hard as I could to push through it. I will miss being out there, and I appreciate all the continuous support.”

Ranked No. 50 worldwide in August 2024, Anisimova surged to No. 9 after reaching the Wimbledon final in July, where she faced Iga Świątek. She later avenged that loss by defeating Świątek in the quarterfinals of the U.S. Open.

Despite their mutual respect displayed during the final, earlier encounters between Anisimova and Sabalenka were marked by tension. Anisimova had upset Sabalenka in the Wimbledon semifinal earlier this year amid controversy over a net cord incident.

In a post-match press conference, Sabalenka suggested that Anisimova owed her an apology for what she perceived as an error during that match. “I just looked at her and thought, ‘You don’t want to say sorry?’ But she just wanted to win,” Sabalenka remarked.

Following her semifinal loss at Wimbledon, Sabalenka expressed frustration over Anisimova’s premature celebration of a point. “I was just trying to chase the ball. She was already celebrating it. I mean, that’s a bit too early,” she insisted.

Anisimova later attempted to clarify the situation, stating that she was not celebrating prematurely but rather reacting naturally during play. “It was just like a long grunt,” she explained.

With her victory over Anisimova at the U.S. Open final, Sabalenka secured her fourth Grand Slam title. “It’s just crazy,” she said post-match. “All those tough lessons were worth this one. I’m speechless right now. I love it here; I love the support.”

As both players move forward from this tournament, their journeys reflect resilience and determination in the face of challenges.