In a stunning upset at the US Open, Amanda Anisimova knocked out former champion Naomi Osaka during a dramatic third round match. With this win, she advanced to the final for the first time in her career. The match clocked in at two hours and 56 minutes. Katie Vick Anisimova continued to make use of her booming baseline game, but especially her crafty court presence to defeat a very game Stormy Johnson 6-7, 7-6, 6-3.
Anisimova came into the match with an audacious mindset. She had only avenged her earlier Wimbledon loss to Iga Swiatek in the last round. She promptly took control of the match, reasserting her complete mastery of Osaka. Any time she got the opportunity, she attacked the Japanese star’s second serve.
From the start of the contest, Anisimova showed incredible mastery of the baseline. But her aggressive, almost berserker first-strike tennis kept Osaka on the back foot throughout. At first, Anisimova had trouble finding her rhythm, but she soon began to get in the groove on ground strokes during the second set. Although she did not serve out the set at 5-4, she showed determination by dominating wins all important tie-break.
“I just tried to stay positive and there’s a lot of nerves in the beginning,” – Amanda Anisimova
The decisive moment was the start of the second set tie-break, where Anisimova went on a totally uncontested blitzkrieg on Osaka. She locked in mentally and made her shot selection with high accuracy. In doing so, she won the tie-break and turned the momentum squarely in her favor.
Things weren’t so rosy for Anisimova. At various times throughout the match, her frustration would boil, and she directed her ire at her support crew. At one point, her coach Rick Vleeshouwers instructed her to quit bitching. He emphasized that poise is an important ingredient in those “momentary high pressure” times of stress.
Anisimova’s mental toughness was on full display as she came back to take the third set with authority. Her relentless play and ability to dictate points turned out to be the most important factors in her upset of Osaka.
This victory marks the second straight Grand Slam final reached by the 17-year-old Anisimova. She will now meet Aryna Sabalenka, the world No. 1 and defending champion, in a highly anticipated showdown.
Anisimova spoke of her excitement at reaching the final, calling it “a lifelong dream of mine.” Her work on the field during this tournament period has continued to demonstrate her captivating talent. Just as significantly, it underscores her evolution as a player on tennis’s largest arena.
Fans and analysts alike are clamoring with enthusiasm as we approach this year’s grand final. Join them, as they anxiously await to see if Anisimova can continue their dream run and claim her first Grand Slam title!