The controversy about who would claim the US Open women’s singles title between Sabalenka and Anisimova finally concluded with the Belarusian emerging victorious.

Before Anisimova advanced to the final, many wished for Sabalenka’s opponent to be an American. The reason was that compared to Naomi Osaka, Anisimova posed the biggest threat to Sabalenka, which was reflected not only in their head-to-head record but also by the recent heavy defeat Sabalenka suffered against the American in the Wimbledon semifinals. If Anisimova and Sabalenka met in the final, the match outcome would likely be more unpredictable.

After Anisimova came back to defeat Naomi Osaka and reach the final, some even said that Sabalenka’s chances of defending her title had become extremely difficult.

However, Sabalenka declared before the match that she would not let the tragedy of the French Open happen to her again. This indirectly showed her strong determination to break the curse that no one has successfully defended the US Open title since Serena Williams in 2014. She believed the third time’s the charm, and this championship was hers to claim, determined to shatter the decade-long curse haunting the US Open women’s singles — come what may.

At the start of the match, fans supporting Anisimova teased Sabalenka’s confident words in the live chat, saying, “You’re so confident, but if you lose, you better hold back your tears.”

It’s often said that matches between Sabalenka and Anisimova are fiercely contested, and this is certainly true!

From the beginning of the first set, Sabalenka and Anisimova engaged in a fierce battle of service breaks. The match was so intense that many fans and viewers predicted the first set would likely be decided by a tiebreak.

However, after the first six games, the momentum shifted dramatically. Anisimova, who had been on par with Sabalenka in all aspects, suddenly dropped in form. The Belarusian took full advantage of this opportunity, winning the set 6-3 and putting all the pressure on the American.

An interesting moment came in the second set when Sabalenka quickly took a 3-1 lead. Almost everyone watching thought the match was already decided, but unexpectedly, Sabalenka’s form faltered at a crucial moment, losing two games in a row and allowing Anisimova to even the score.

Viewers immediately commented that it seemed fate didn’t want Sabalenka to claim the title easily and had given Anisimova a chance for a miraculous comeback, which she must seize.

Disappointingly for the American, she not only failed to hold her advantage but also pushed herself into a dangerous position. When Sabalenka reached 5-3 and had a chance to serve for the match, everyone thought Anisimova’s defeat was inevitable.

However, the American seemed to test everyone’s nerves by breaking Sabalenka’s championship-serving game and pushing the match into a suspenseful tiebreak.

After Anisimova regained her momentum, many believed she would fight hard to crush Sabalenka in the tiebreak and force a deciding set to see who would ultimately win the championship. But at the critical moment, Anisimova appeared to lose strength again, scoring only three points in the tiebreak and losing the match, while Sabalenka nervously but safely claimed victory.

After winning, Sabalenka knelt on the ground and cried as if it were her first Grand Slam title, a touching scene.

Many said they completely understood the Belarusian’s reaction. She had lost to Americans at crucial moments in the Australian Open, French Open, and Wimbledon, and finally defeated an American to win the coveted Grand Slam title, so it was natural to release all the pressure she had been carrying — it was truly a hard-earned victory.

Moreover, this victory over Anisimova marked a milestone for Sabalenka: first, she unlocked her 100th Grand Slam win in a final, a feat previously achieved only by Swiatek, making her the second; second, she became the first woman since Serena Williams in 2014 to successfully defend the US Open title, breaking the decade-long curse of champions struggling to repeat; third, she became only the third female player in the Open Era to win all four Grand Slam titles on hard courts, following Naomi Osaka and Kim Clijsters.

While Sabalenka celebrated her hard-fought US Open title with tears and laughter, Anisimova became the subject of sympathy. Having fought hard to reach back-to-back finals at Wimbledon and the US Open, many felt her Wimbledon loss was understandable due to lack of experience, and this time at the US Open there was hope, but she ended up repeating the tragic fate of Tunisia’s Ons Jabeur in 2022, leaving the American deeply saddened after the match.

However, many comforted Anisimova, saying it’s not over after three tries. As long as she maintains her current form and fighting spirit, she has a great chance to make up for this year’s disappointment next year. Losing to Sabalenka was not a technical issue but likely due to physical fatigue from multiple tough battles. After Kontaveit’s sudden withdrawal in the quarterfinals gave Sabalenka more time to rest and adjust, Anisimova was somewhat disadvantaged. It was simply bad luck this time, but with continued effort, success will surely come!(Source: Tennis Home, Author: Moonlit Starry Sky)