US Open 2025
Venue: Flushing Meadows, New York Dates: 24 August-7 September
Coverage: Live radio commentaries across 5 Live Sport and BBC Sounds, plus live text commentaries on the BBC Sport website & app
A teary-eyed Amanda Anisimova looked away as Aryna Sabalenka lifted the US Open trophy high into the air.
It was the second time in 57 days that the American had come up short in a Grand Slam final – but the circumstances are vastly different.
At Wimbledon in July, Anisimova froze in her first-ever major final – losing 6-0 6-0 against Iga Swiatek – but she can hold her head high despite going down 6-3 7-6 (7-3) at the hands of Sabalenka.
Few backed the 24-year-old to recover so quickly from that demoralising defeat at SW19, but Anisimova displayed incredible mental strength to reach Saturday’s final at Flushing Meadows.
“I didn’t fight hard enough for my dreams,” Anisimova reflected on the defeat.
“With finals I have a lot of nerves, and it’s something I’m trying to work on, but I wish I played more aggressive.
“I feel like if I fought harder, maybe I would have given myself more of a chance.”
World number one Sabalenka knows better than anyone how Anisimova is feeling.
Victory in New York gave Sabalenka her fourth Grand Slam singles title, but she has also suffered defeat in three major finals – including two this year.
“I know how much it hurts,” Sabalenka told Anisimova.
“But trust me, the moment you’re going to win the first one, and you are going to win it, you’re going to enjoy it even more after the tough losses.”
Anisimova’s run over the past two weeks will have done plenty to banish the ghosts of her previous major final appearance – first defeating Swiatek in the quarter-finals before battling past two-time US Open champion Naomi Osaka in the semi-finals.
As the music played and the stage was assembled for the trophy ceremony on Arthur Ashe, Anisimova put her head in her towel and cried, before composing herself and staring up at the closed roof.
It was a moment of reflection for the American as Sabalenka raced through the crowd to celebrate with her team.
Speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live, former British number one Annabel Croft said Anisimova has an “unbelievable sense of character” – and leaning on that will help her come back stronger once again.
The world number eight surprised even herself with how quickly she moved on from her Wimbledon loss, admitted she cried for 30 minutes before getting on the phone with a friend and “laughing it off”.
The rebuild this time might even be a little easier.
Anisimova has built an inner-belief on home soil and picked up plenty of new supporters along the way.
