Dominant Aryna Sabalenka one step away from US Open repeat

This grand U.S. Open stage under the Arthur Ashe Stadium lights has become familiar to Aryna Sabalenka. 

It’s her third consecutive year vying for the title in Flushing, as well as her third Grand Slam final appearance of the season and fourth in her last five majors.

The dominance Sabalenka has shown in reaching six consecutive hardcourt major finals undoubtedly has made its mark on tennis forever. 

But young American Amanda Anisimova will take the court Saturday night looking to run the Belarusian tigress out of the concrete jungle and capture her first Grand Slam title. 

The No. 8 seed happens to be the most recent player to knock Sabalenka out of a Grand Slam tournament: She upset the world No. 1 in the Wimbledon semifinals in mid-July. 

Although she’s won six of their previous nine meetings, Anisimova understands just how big of a challenge lies ahead. 

“We’ve had very, very tough matches,” Anisimova said of Sabalenka. “A lot of them have actually been at Grand Slams, too, especially early on in my career. But I think the standout one was probably Wimbledon. It was really a seesaw match, which is almost always the case when I play her. 

“Yeah, I think that was the most special one for me.” 

Anisimova is on the cusp of becoming the first woman to successfully defend her title here since Serena Williams won three in a row from 2012-2014. 

More than that, Sabalenka hopes to finally hoist some hardware and validate a strong season.

After finishing second in Melbourne and Paris, as well as reaching the semifinals at Wimbledon, Sabalenka — who has spent 42 consecutive weeks at No. 1 — is still searching for her first title this year. 

“I think I have to trust myself, and I have to go after my shots,” Sabalenka said. “I felt like in that match at Wimby, I was doubting a lot [of] my decisions, and that was the main thing that was bringing a lot of unforced errors. I gave her a lot of opportunities and, of course, she played incredible tennis, but I feel like I had my opportunities. I didn’t use them, and I feel like the key for me is going to be just go out there, of course, like, obviously fight, but trust my decisions and go after my shots.” 

This is about more than just becoming a Grand Slam champion for Anisimova.

The Freehold, N.J., native can redeem herself after not winning a single game against Iga Swiatek in one of the most lopsided Wimbledon finals in recent memory.

She already partially avenged it with a convincing straight sets win over Swiatek in these quarterfinals. 

But the title would also punctuate the journey for Anisimova, who has battled through losing her father and coach in 2019, the impact from her inconsistent play and a mental health break from the sport in 2023. 

Just over a year ago, Anisimova fell in the final round of Wimbledon qualifying after tumbling down the rankings to No. 189. 

Now, she has a renewed chance at a Grand Slam title. 

“I think I have really worked on myself to really be able to handle those moments and to believe in myself,” Anisimova said. “Even when it feels like, ‘What is there to believe in?’ In a way, like, when you’re not playing that well. I think I have really done a better job of that, and especially since the Wimbledon final. I think I have really shifted with my attitude as well.