NEW YORK (AP) — Aryna Sabalenka did not make many mistakes — well, until near the end — despite not sacrificing any power, and outplayed Amanda Anisimova for a 6-3, 7-6 (3) victory in the U.S. Open final Saturday, making her the first woman to win the tournament in consecutive years since Serena Williams more than a decade ago.
The No. 1-ranked Sabalenka picked up the fourth Grand Slam title of her career, all on hard courts. This was not all smooth sailing, though.
Sabalenka twice led by a break in the second set, and served for the win at 5-4. But at 30-all, so close to the trophy, she had a chance to hit an overhead and get to match point. Instead, while backpedaling, Sabalenka put the ball into the net, giving Anisimova a break chance.
After that excruciating miss, Sabalenka dropped her racket on the blue court and smiled a rueful smile. A moment later, Anisimova — a 24-year-old American — converted the break to get to 5-all and shook her left fist while 24,000 or so of her closest friends in Arthur Ashe Stadium rose to applaud and shout.
Ah, but 15 minutes after the flub, Sabalenka was kneeling on the court and covering her face with both hands, coming through on her third match point — which made perfect sense, because she simply doesn’t lose tiebreakers. This one made her 21-1 in those this year, winning her last 19.
Not since Williams took three straight titles from 2012-14 had a woman repeated as the champ in New York.
The result also meant Sabalenka avoided becoming the first woman to lose three major finals in a single season since Justine Henin in 2006.
“All those tough lessons (were) worth this one,” Sabalenka said. “I’m speechless right now.”
Sabalenka, a 27-year-old from Belarus, was the runner-up to Madison Keys at the Australian Open in January and to Coco Gauff at the French Open. Then, at Wimbledon in July, Sabalenka was eliminated by Anisimova.
That put Anisimova into her first major final, which she lost 6-0, 6-0 to Iga Swiatek. But Anisimova put that shutout behind her immediately, well enough to win a rematch against Swiatek in the U.S. Open quarterfinals.
“Losing in two finals in a row is great, but then it’s also super hard,” said Anisimova, who sat and buried her face in a towel after the match was over. “I think I didn’t fight hard enough for my dreams today.”
Sabalenka told her: “I know how much it hurts losing in the finals, but trust me … you’re going to win (one). … Girl, you’re going to enjoy it even more after these tough losses in the finals.”
When Anisimova trailed Sabalenka 2-0, 30-love as Saturday’s match began, some fans might have wondered: There’s no way there’s going to be a repeat of the final at the All England Club, right?
Right.
Anisimova grabbed the next four points to break back, capping the game with a backhand winner and a forehand winner. That got the partisan fans up on their feet, shouting, and Anisimova exhaled as she walked to the sideline and wiped sweat from her forehead.
Soon, she led 3-2. But Sabalenka took the next four games and that set.
It began pouring before the match, so Ashe’s artificial lights were on, and its retractable roof was shut. That appeared to be a distraction at times to Anisimova, who motioned to her team in the stands that something was bothering her during ball tosses for serves.
The setup also created windless conditions, ideal for two ball-strikers who really can bring the power with good contact. And that’s what they both did from the start, striking speedy serves and deep groundstrokes with so much pace that responding was never simple.
Some exchanges were breathtaking — to them, certainly, and to spectators who gasped at the power during longer points.
Both are aggressive during back-and-forths and rarely are risk-averse. The rewards can be huge, as can the mistakes, and Anisimova was seeking the lines with full cuts off both sides.
Of Sabalenka’s first 13 points, which helped her claim the initial two games, just one came via her own winner. The other dozen arrived thanks to Anisimova’s six unforced errors and six forced errors.
By the end, Anisimova had nearly twice as many winners as Sabalenka, 22-13, and nearly twice as many unforced errors, too, 29-15.
“You are so incredible,” Anisimova told Sabalenka during the trophy ceremony. “I’m in awe of what you’ve accomplished, and you keep on achieving so many incredible things.”
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