Amanda Anisimova Advances to US Open Finals
Amanda Anisimova is back in the spotlight, once again a finalist in a Grand Slam tournament.
Just under two months after her close call in the Wimbledon finals, where she faced a crushing defeat, Anisimova found redemption by beating Naomi Osaka with a tough 6-7 (4), 7-6, 6-3 victory at Arthur Ashe Stadium on Thursday night. It was a striking turnaround, especially considering her previous struggles at the US Open, where she never advanced past the third round in five attempts.
There have definitely been some challenging times in Anisimova’s career, times when it felt a bit overwhelming. However, she has managed to tap into some remarkable tennis lately.
Just days ago, she faced the formidable World No. 2, Iga Swiatek, in a match that ended in her favor on September 3. What stood out about Anisimova in her latest match was how she bounced back after losing the first set tiebreaker—there’s something admirable about that.
This win pushes Anisimova’s record to three victories against Osaka, reinforcing her dominance in their encounters.
However, it’s worth noting that the two hadn’t played against each other since 2022, and Osaka seemed to start strong this time around.
Osaka has a pattern; each time she reached the quarterfinals in majors, she went on to win the title. That streak, however, came to an end during this encounter.
In the first set, Anisimova was everywhere, determined to disrupt Osaka’s rhythm. Still, the eighth seed managed to rally from a 4-2 and then a 5-3 deficit to force a tiebreaker. Osaka initially looked poised, establishing a 6-1 lead, but Anisimova fought back, narrowing it to 6-4 before Osaka claimed the first set.
Frustration mounted for Osaka in the second set, particularly after falling behind 5-4. She threw her racket and covered her head with a towel during the break, exhibiting her annoyance.
Despite a double fault from Anisimova that tied the set, Osaka held on in the 11th game, coming from a 40-15 disadvantage.
As the second tiebreaker unfolded, Anisimova established an early lead, quickly jumping to 5-1. It was clear she was determined to push to a decisive set.
