On September 6 local time, the home player and 8th seed Anisimova fought hard in two sets in the 2025 US Open women's singles final, falling 3-6, 6-7(3) to world number one Sabalenka, marking her second straight runner-up finish at a major.

Anisimova

Anisimova reflected on her final performance: "I think I never really reached my top form during the match. The final made me very nervous, which I am working to overcome, but I really wish I could have played more aggressively. Of course, Sabalenka played brilliantly, her offense was sharp, and she did everything right, making it tough for me to respond."

“I didn’t win today, clearly I didn’t do enough. That’s the reality, and I have to accept it. If I had fought harder at those moments, maybe I could have created more chances for myself, but I felt I was definitely on the back foot today.”

Anisimova is the third American in three years, after Gauff and Pegula, to reach the US Open women’s singles final on home soil. She said the support from the home crowd gave her great motivation. "The atmosphere was amazing, and I tried to enjoy it, especially when I started to fight back in the second set. Everyone was cheering me on, which kept me fighting and striving to stay in the match."

“I was truly determined to show my best in the final. Reaching the final is already special, but winning the title is my ultimate dream. Of course, I remain highly motivated and hope to keep improving, creating more chances to appear on the final stage in the future.”

Thanks to her outstanding performance at the US Open, Anisimova’s world ranking will continue to climb to a new personal best, rising to No. 4. After finishing runner-up in two consecutive Grand Slams, her championship points have significantly increased, placing her in a strong position for a spot at the Riyadh WTA Finals.

(Written and edited by Dato; Photo credit: Visual China)