Sabalenka clinches second straight US Open crown, capturing her fourth Grand Slam to enter elite ranks

NEW YORK, Sept 7 — World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka successfully defended her US Open crown yesterday, powering past American Amanda Anisimova in straight sets to claim the fourth Grand Slam title of her career.

The 27-year-old Belarusian delivered a commanding 6-3, 7-6 (7/3) victory on Arthur Ashe Stadium, capitalising on Anisimova’s vulnerable serve and extending her remarkable run in tiebreaks to 19 consecutive wins.

Sabalenka, who had endured painful defeats in both the Australian and French Open finals earlier this year, said the triumph was a sweet redemption. “It’s crazy, all those tough lessons were worth it for this one. I’m speechless right now,” she reflected after the win.

For Anisimova, the match was another setback in her quest for a first Grand Slam, despite holding a winning record against Sabalenka in past encounters. The American admitted she struggled to sustain her fight in key moments. “Losing in two finals in a row is great but it’s also super hard. I think I didn’t fight hard enough for my dreams today,” she said.

The final saw momentum swing early, with Anisimova briefly leading in the first set before Sabalenka’s relentless baseline power turned the tide. While Anisimova broke back late in the second set, her errors in the tiebreak allowed Sabalenka to seize control and close out the match in one hour and 34 minutes.

With the win, Sabalenka not only cements her dominance atop women’s tennis but also joins an elite group of players to have captured back-to-back US Open titles. — AFP