Aryna Sabalenka is on the charge once again and has reached her third Grand Slam final of 2025.
The Belarusian player is yet to win a major this year, but after beating Jessica Pegula, she now has a golden chance to claim the final piece of big silverware.
Sabalenka made a defiant statement after coming from behind to beat Pegula, and she looks as dialled in as she’s been for some time at the US Open.
Sabalenka has praise for Pegula after beating her, but it was business as usual for the world number one after she lost the first set to the American player.
Team Sabalenka have been praising her at this tournament, but the final will see a rematch of the Wimbledon semifinal against Amanda Anisimova – a match which Sabalenka lost!
Aryna Sabalenka shares what she will do different against Amanda Anisimova
The win secured by Anisimova at Wimbledon sent shockwaves across tennis, with the American claiming a 6-4, 4-6, 6-4 win to set up a maiden Grand Slam final.
Sabalenka seemingly fought with herself out on the court in that match, and after setting up another Grand Slam final, she’s admitted what she will do differently this time.
She said in her press conference: “I think I have to trust myself, and I have to go after my shots. I felt like in that match at Wimby, I was doubting a lot of my decisions, and that was the main thing that was bringing a lot of unforced errors.
“I gave her a lot of opportunities, and of course, she played incredible tennis, but I feel like I had my opportunities. I didn’t use them, and I feel like the key for me going to be just go out there, of course, like, obviously, fight, but trust my decisions and go after my shots.”
Anisimova will have demons to conquer in US Open final
It’s only a matter of weeks since Anisimova lost 6-0, 6-0 to Iga Swiatek in the Wimbledon final and naturally that will be in the mind of the American.
Sabalenka has to take advantage of any mental fragilities at the start of the final and get herself into a position to dominate Anisimova.
The new world number five has overcome some of the demons from SW19 by beating Swiatek at Flushing Meadows, but given that this is another final, there might still be some lingering doubts.
Sabalenka won’t want to finish the year without collecting a Grand Slam title and this does feel like an opportunity that the world number one will refuse to pass up.
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