Under the lights of Arthur Ashe Stadium, Alina Sabalenka has become quite familiar with this stage at the US Open.
This marks her third consecutive year vying for the title in Flushing, and it’s also her third Grand Slam Final appearance this season—fourth in just five major tournaments.
Her impressive record signifies that she has reached major finals on hard courts six times in a row.
However, young American Amanda Anisimova is set to challenge the Belarusian powerhouse on Saturday night, aiming for her first Grand Slam title.
The eighth seed has just knocked out Sabalenka, building momentum as she prepares for this significant match.
Despite having won six out of their previous nine encounters, Anisimova knows it won’t be easy.
“We’ve had some very tough matches,” Anisimova reflected on her history with Sabalenka. “Many have been in Grand Slams, especially early in my career, but I think the standout was probably Wimbledon, which was a real seesaw battle.”
“That match was really special for me.”
Sabalenka aims to defend her title, making her the first woman to do so here since Serena Williams, who took home three consecutive championships from 2012 to 2014.
Her goals extend beyond just repeating as champion; she’s eager for some hardware to cap off a powerful season.
With runner-up finishes in Melbourne and Paris, along with a semi-final run at Wimbledon, she’s still on the hunt for her first title this year after spending 42 weeks ranked No. 1.
“I think I need to trust myself and really pursue my shots,” Sabalenka explained. “In that Wimbledon match, I had a lot of doubts about my decisions, which led to unforced errors. I gave her chances, and she played exceptional tennis, but I feel like I had opportunities I didn’t capitalize on. So for me, fighting is key, but it’s also about trusting my instincts.”
This match isn’t just about claiming a Grand Slam title for Anisimova.
The native of Freehold, New Jersey, has a chance to redeem herself after a disappointing performance against Iga Swiatek in a one-sided Wimbledon final.
She partially avenged that loss by defeating Swiatek in the quarterfinals in a compelling straight-set match.
However, the path to this title has been challenging for Anisimova, marked by the loss of her father and coach in 2019, struggles with inconsistent play, and mental health breaks from the sport.
Just a year ago, she faced a setback in qualifying after dropping to No. 189.
Now, she stands on the brink of a Grand Slam title.
“I think I’ve really worked on myself to process those moments better and trust my instincts,” Anisimova said. “Even when you question your beliefs, I feel like I’ve improved my ability to handle those tough patches.”
