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Amanda Anisimova explains what she was doing against Iga Swiatek which was very unusual for her

Photo by Robert Prange/Getty Images
Photo by Robert Prange/Getty Images
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Amanda Anisimova has completely turned the tables after beating Iga Swiatek to reach the US Open semifinals for the first time.

Anisimova lost 6-0 6-0 to Swiatek in the Wimbledon final, which took place just 53 days before they met once again at the US Open.

The American was desperate to make sure there was not a repeat of this in New York, with Anisimova reflecting on how she felt after beating Swiatek in straight sets.

While Anisimova’s general game was improved against Swiatek, she also did something else that was different to beat the world number two.

Amanda Anisimova and Iga Swiatek embrace after their semifinal match at the 2025 US Open
Photo by Elsa/Getty Images

Amanda Anisimova reveals what unusual thing she told herself to do against Iga Swiatek

Anisimova beat a physically hampered Swiatek, 6-4 6-3, to avenge her Wimbledon loss and move one step closer to reaching her second consecutive Grand Slam final.

When reflecting on the match in her post-match press conference, Anisimova explained how her mindset has shifted throughout the US Open this year.

The world number nine then went on to explain what she specifically told herself ahead of this match, which Anisimova admitted is not something she is used to doing.

“I think what I learned then and also throughout this tournament, I feel like with each match that I’ve played I tell myself to really not go into the match with fear,” said Anisimova.

“I think when I started the tournament, I was kind of going into the matches with a little bit of fear and maybe holding back a bit and as I’ve been progressing and playing more and more, I told myself like you can’t go into the match with any fear, especially if I’m playing against top players.

“It’s just it’s not a negotiable for me, because if I want to win the match, I’m going to have to play really brave and strong tennis. Today I really came out there with like not an ounce of fear.

“If you’re watching the match, I was trying to really like have a lot of positive reinforcement and try to stay moving all the time, which is not actually something I do a lot. I was just like constantly moving and trying to get myself going.”

Amanda Anisimova becomes first American woman to achieve record since the Williams sisters

After reaching the US Open semifinals for the first time, Anisimova has achieved a rare career feat after reaching the last-four at three major tournaments.

Anisimova reached her first Grand Slam semifinal at Roland Garros in 2019, before doing the same at Wimbledon and the US Open this year.

As a result, Anisimova has become the first American woman to reach a Grand Slam semifinal on every surface since the Williams sisters did at Roland Garros in 2002.

Anisimova will now look to become the first American woman to reach the Wimbledon and US Open finals back-to-back since Serena Williams in 2019.

Standing in the way of her reaching the US Open final for the first time is Naomi Osaka, who Anisimova has beaten in both of their previous meetings.