Lead: On Saturday at Arthur Ashe Stadium (expected start ~4 p.m. ET), American Amanda Anisimova will meet world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka in the 2025 US Open women’s singles final; Anisimova is chasing her first Grand Slam eight weeks after a heavy Wimbledon defeat, while Sabalenka aims to defend the title she won in 2024.
Key takeaways
- Anisimova reached the US Open final after a quarterfinal win over Iga Świątek and a semifinal comeback against Naomi Osaka.
- Eight weeks earlier she endured a 6-0, 6-0 loss in the Wimbledon final, a result she describes as a turning point for her mentality.
- Sabalenka is the defending champion (2024 US Open), world No. 1 and has alternated big wins with headline losses this season.
- Sabalenka advanced after Markéta Vondroušová withdrew and then beat Jessica Pegula 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 in the semis.
- Head-to-head between Anisimova and Sabalenka stands 6–3 in Anisimova’s favour, including a dramatic Wimbledon semifinal in July.
- Broadcasters: ESPN (US), Eurosport (Europe) and Sky Sports (UK) carry the match; local start time is 4 p.m. ET.
Verified facts
Amanda Anisimova (world No. 9) returns to a Grand Slam final after a difficult fortnight in London. In July she lost the Wimbledon final 6-0, 6-0 to Iga Świątek; she later beat Świątek in this tournament’s quarterfinal in straight sets, and then overcame Naomi Osaka in a semifinal that swung on a second-set tiebreak.
Aryna Sabalenka, 27, is the reigning US Open champion and holds the world No. 1 ranking. Since her 2024 US Open victory over Jessica Pegula she has reached two finals and one other semifinal at the majors this season, but has not always closed out those opportunities.
Sabalenka progressed to this final after Markéta Vondroušová withdrew with a knee injury; Sabalenka then defeated Jessica Pegula 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 in the semifinal. She has cited learning from earlier emotional lapses this year — notably at Roland Garros — and says she will control her on-court reactions in New York.
Context & impact
For Anisimova, this match is both a personal test and a rare chance for the U.S. home crowd to see a young American win a first major. Recovering from a lopsided loss on one of tennis’s biggest stages and returning to a final at the next major is an uncommon narrative that spotlights mental resilience.
For Sabalenka, defending the 2024 title would reinforce her position at the top of the rankings after a season of high notes and setbacks. A successful defense in New York would deepen her case as the game’s current leading power player and temper questions about consistency under pressure.
Match outcome implications:
- A Sabalenka win: solidifies her status as a multi-major champion and strengthens year-long No. 1 credentials.
- An Anisimova win: marks a breakthrough first Grand Slam for a 21st-century U.S. prospect and signals a rapid recovery from Wimbledon.
Official statements
“I think I have really worked on myself to really be able to handle those moments and to believe in myself,”
Amanda Anisimova, after her semifinal
“What happened in Paris, definitely not gonna happen here… I learned that lesson, and I will never behave that way,”
Aryna Sabalenka, after her semifinal
Bottom line
Saturday’s final pairs two different arcs: Anisimova’s comeback and mental recovery against Sabalenka’s bid to consolidate a top-tier year. Expect a high-stakes match where mental control and decision-making under pressure could decide which player lifts the trophy.