Aryna Sabalenka matches Serena Williams with back-to-back US Open titles

Aryna Sabalenka successfully defended her US Open crown on Saturday, September 6, defeating American Amanda Anisimova 6-3, 7-6(3) in an hour and 34 minutes at Arthur Ashe Stadium.

The victory gave the World No.1 her fourth Grand Slam title, adding to her two Australian Open triumphs.

With this win, Sabalenka became the first woman since Serena Williams in 2014 to defend the US Open title. The Belarusian also avenged her Wimbledon semifinal loss to Anisimova earlier this summer, capping a season where she had finished runner-up at both Roland Garros and Wimbledon.

The final began with Anisimova threatening an upset, forcing three break points in the opening game and riding the crowd’s support to keep Sabalenka under pressure. But the top seed responded with trademark resilience, breaking serve three times in the first set to seize control.

Anisimova fought back in the second, recovering from 1-3 down to level the contest and later breaking Sabalenka as she served for the title. The American pushed the match into a tie-break, but Sabalenka raced ahead 6-1 and sealed victory with ease.

For the 24-year-old Anisimova, it was a second straight Grand Slam final defeat after her Wimbledon loss to Iga Swiatek. Despite the disappointment, she rose to World No.4 in the latest rankings.

Sabalenka’s triumph, meanwhile, reinforced her status as the dominant force in women’s tennis and etched her name alongside Serena in US Open history.