The stage for the US Open women’s final is set as defending champion Aryna Sabalenka takes on home favourite Amanda Anisimova from 9pm on Saturday, live on Sky Sports.
World No 1 Sabalenka beat America’s Jessica Pegula in the last four, while Anisimova saw off two-time US Open champion Naomi Osaka to set up a rematch of this year’s Wimbledon semi-final, which Anisimova won in three sets.
American Anismiova holds a 6-3 head-to-head advantage over the top seed and has spoken about adopting a new mindset shift ahead of the blockbuster showdown.
“I feel like the last few weeks, there’s been a bit of a different feeling,” said Anisimova, who was beaten 6-0 6-0 by Iga Swiatek in the Wimbledon final.
When I was at Wimbledon, every single match was kind of like a surprise to me, and I was shocked with every match that I won. But here it feels more like I believe in myself and I’m able to do it. So I think that’s been the shift for me.”
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Highlights from New York as Anisimova defeated two-time US Open champion Naomi Osaka in the semi-finals
Anisimova: I am shutting off the noise
“I’m going to go about it like it’s every other day. Obviously, I’m excited, but I’m shutting off all the noise around me, deleting everything from my phone to really focus.
“I want to zone in on my opportunity and do everything that I can to be ready.
“I think it [reaching the final] shows that I have worked really hard, especially on my mental game and not giving up.
Anisimova lost 6-0 6-0 to Iga Swiatek in July’s Wimbledon final
“I could have easily said: ‘Osaka is playing better than me, and I can’t really do anything,’ but I really tried to find a way I could to stay in the match, even though it was extremely tough, and she was playing really great tennis.
“I have really worked on myself to be able to handle those moments and to believe in myself, even when it feels like what is there to believe in?
“I have really done a better job of that, and especially since the Wimbledon final, I have really shifted my attitude.
“Sabalenka is a huge fighter. When I play her, I’m really focused on myself and not really looking at what she’s doing.”
Sabalenka: I’ll be happiest person on earth if I win
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Highlights of Sabalenka’s comeback win over Jessica Pegula in the Flushing Meadows semi-finals
Sabalenka is a three-time Grand Slam champion having won the Australian Open in 2023 and 2024 in addition to her triumph at Flushing Meadows a year ago.
But she has lost both major finals she has featured in so far this year, defeated by Madison Keys in Melbourne as her hopes of an Australian Open threepeat were dashed and then beaten by Coco Gauff at the French Open.
The 27-year-old said: “I’m super excited to give myself another opportunity to win another final.
“If I’m able to hold that trophy, it’s going to mean a lot for me. I’ll be just the happiest person on earth, probably.
“I think I have to trust myself, and I have to go after my shots. I felt like in that match at Wimbledon [against Anisimova], 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 [Anisimova] a lot of opportunities, and of course, she played incredible tennis, but I feel like I had my opportunities and I didn’t use them.
“I feel like the key for me is going to be to go out there and fight, but also trust my decisions and go after my shots.”
Watch the US Open live on Sky Sports Tennis or stream with NOW. The women’s final is live from 9pm on Saturdyay with extensive build-up from 8pm.
