Aryna Sabalenka has done it again. Under the bright lights of Arthur Ashe Stadium, the world No. 1 showed exactly why she remains the player to beat in women’s tennis, outlasting Amanda Anisimova in a pulsating final to retain her US Open crown. It was more than just a title defense — it was a showcase of nerve, grit, and the raw power that has become Sabalenka’s trademark.
The match itself had everything: booming serves, lightning rallies, and enough drama to keep the New York crowd glued to their seats. Anisimova, playing some of her best tennis in years, pushed Sabalenka to the brink. At times, it looked as though the American might script a fairytale ending of her own. But Sabalenka thrives in the chaos. Every time she seemed cornered, she found a way to claw back, unleashing forehands that painted the lines and roars that echoed through the stadium.
What made this victory even sweeter was the context. Sabalenka has spent much of 2025 battling the weight of expectation, carrying the pressure of being world No. 1 while facing a field hungry to take her down. To successfully defend her US Open crown — on the sport’s loudest stage, against a hometown favorite — sends a message: she’s not just holding the throne, she’s strengthening it.
For Anisimova, the night may have ended in heartbreak, but her performance proved she belongs back at the sharp end of the game. For Sabalenka, though, it was another defining chapter in what is fast becoming a legacy run. Few players manage to handle the scrutiny of New York and emerge victorious two years running. Sabalenka has now joined that elite club.
As she hoisted the trophy once more, champagne waiting in the wings, one thing became clear: Aryna Sabalenka isn’t done rewriting women’s tennis. If anything, her latest triumph shows she’s only just getting started.
