Amanda Anisimova made her second consecutive Grand Slam final, by getting past Naomi Osaka in a gripping humdinger of a match. The American finally winning 6-7, 7-6, 6-3, to set up a tantalizing contest with defending champion Aryna Sabalenka for the US Open title on Saturday night.
A performance to savour for the ages as Anisimova battled hard and strong in a terrific rearguard action. Coming back after losing the first set, the American displayed tremendous tenacity, skill, composure and a steely spirit to reach the final of the US Open, her second consecutive Grand Slam final after making it to the one at Wimbledon a couple of months ago.
Naomi Osaka also played brilliantly and looked confident of another Grand Slam Final, with a set up and 40-0 up at 4 -4 in the second set. But Anisimova broke her in that game, and though Osaka fought back to push the set to a tie-break, the tide had taken a turn at that point. Anisimova played a great tie-breaker winning with ease, which set up the contest for a tough third set.
Anisimova just dug deep into her energy reservoirs as a tiring Osaka began to slip a bit and raced to a 5-2 lead over the Japanese. But Osaka did not let go without a fight. Serving for the match at 5-3, Anisimova had to once again hold her nerve, as Osaka, down 15-40 and staring at two match points, turned the scene into a game point, but Anisimova did not let it slip and closed out the match in a 2h56m battle. The match ended at 1.00 am.
A great achievement indeed for a player who fought injuries galore, worked hard, believed in herself, and is now making her talent count. Blown away by Swiatek in the Wimbledon final, Anisimova got her revenge against Swiatek and then battled past 4-time Grand Slam winner Osaka to reach her maiden US Open Final.
Anisimova had beaten Sabalenka in the Wimbledon semi-final, and will draw confidence from that match. But this is a different surface, and it would take some big pound of flesh to get past Sabalenka this time.
Let’s see who has more energy left to enthrall the New York crowd once again.
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