Aryna Sabalenka beats Amanda Anisimova for second straight US Open title, fourth major

Aryna Sabalenka secured her fourth Grand Slam title with a 6-3, 7-6 (3) victory over Amanda Anisimova in the US Open final on Saturday, becoming the first woman since Serena Williams to win consecutive titles at the tournament. Despite a near slip in the second set, the world No. 1 maintained her composure to clinch the victory under the closed roof of Arthur Ashe Stadium.The match, played under artificial lights due to rain outside, showcased Sabalenka's dominant performance throughout most of the contest. The 27-year-old Belarusian displayed exceptional control and power, making few mistakes until the closing moments.The victory held particular significance as Sabalenka avoided becoming the first woman since Justine Henin in 2006 to lose three major finals in a single season. She had previously finished as runner-up at both the Australian Open and French Open this year.The match reached a dramatic point when Sabalenka served for the win at 5-4 in the second set. At 30-all, she missed a crucial overhead shot, dropping her racket in frustration and allowing Anisimova to break back and level the set at 5-all.Anisimova, the 24-year-old American, showed resilience throughout the match, especially after falling behind 2-0, 30-love in the opening set. She managed to break back immediately, winning four straight points and energizing the partisan crowd of 24,000.
The indoor conditions created by the closed roof appeared to affect Anisimova's serve, as she gestured to her team about difficulties with ball tosses. However, the windless environment suited both players' powerful hitting styles.The match featured intense baseline exchanges, with both players maintaining aggressive approaches. Sabalenka's early dominance was evident as she won the first set after taking four consecutive games from 3-2 down.For Anisimova, this marked another significant milestone in her career. She had previously defeated Sabalenka at Wimbledon and reached her first major final, where she lost to Iga Swiatek. She showed her resilience by bouncing back to defeat Swiatek in the US Open quarterfinals.The early stages of the match revealed the contrasting styles, with Sabalenka's consistency prevailing over Anisimova's high-risk approach. Of Sabalenka's first 13 points, only one came from her own winner, while twelve resulted from Anisimova's errors.Sabalenka ultimately closed out the match on her third match point, kneeling on the court and covering her face with both hands in celebration. The victory further cements her position at the top of women's tennis, adding another prestigious title to her growing collection.