Amanda Anisimova roars into US Open final with marathon win over Naomi Osaka

NEW YORK — Amanda Anisimova delivered a statement performance under the lights at Arthur Ashe Stadium, rallying past Naomi Osaka on Thursday night to book her place in the US Open final.

The No. 8 seed overcame a slow start and a one-set deficit to defeat the two-time champion 6-7 (4), 7-6 (3), 6-3, securing her second straight Grand Slam final appearance.

Anisimova threw her hands in the air after Osaka’s final shot sailed wide, then fell to her knees and pounded the court as she soaked in the moment.

Read More: Aryna Sabalenka reaches third consecutive US Open final, ousts Jessica Pegula in three sets

“Oh my god, it means the world,” Anisimova said in her on-court interview. “I’m trying to process that right now. It’s just absolutely a dream come true. This has been a dream of mine, like, forever to be in the US Open final—and obviously, the hope is to be the champion.”

She will now face world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka, who rallied past No. 4 Jessica Pegula 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 in the earlier semifinal. For Anisimova, it’s also a chance at redemption after suffering a brutal 6-0, 6-0 loss to Swiatek at Wimbledon earlier this summer.

The 23-year-old American looked on the brink of defeat at several points against Osaka—but steadied herself in the second set, dominating the tiebreak and carrying that momentum through the decider. She closed out the late-night contest just before 1 in the morning after a marathon two hours and 56 minutes on court.

The semifinal was a showcase of two of the sport’s cleanest ball-strikers, both in the midst of resurgent second acts. Osaka was returning from a mental health break and maternity leave after giving birth to daughter Shai in 2023, while Anisimova also stepped away from tennis in 2023 before launching her comeback.

Anisimova is now enjoying a career-best season, winning her first WTA 1000 title in Doha and making her long-awaited Top 10 debut in July after reaching the final at Wimbledon. At this time last year, she was ranked No. 50 in the world.

Read More: Amanda Anisimova avenges a double-bagel Wimbledon final loss to Iga Swiatek: “Today proved everything for me”

By reaching the US Open final, Anisimova also extended a remarkable streak for American women’s tennis: there has now been at least one American woman in the final of every major this season. Madison Keys won the Australian Open over Aryna Sabalenka, Coco Gauff defeated Sabalenka at Roland Garros, Iga Swiatek beat Anisimova at Wimbledon—and now Anisimova will battle Sabalenka for the crown in New York.

It’s the first time that’s happened since 2002, when Jennifer Capriati and Serena and Venus Williams combined to reach every Slam final.

More to follow...