Amanda Anisimova stunned Iga Swiatek to avenge her Wimbledon final defeat and book a place in the semi-finals of the US Open against Naomi Osaka.
Anisimova suffered a chastening loss to Swiatek in the final of Wimbledon back in July when the Pole had handed her a brutal 6-0 6-0 loss – the first double bagel in a women’s Wimbledon final in over a hundred years – but she banished her demons with a 6-4 6-3 victory.
Osaka, champion here in 2018 and 2020, stayed on course for her fifth Grand Slam title with a 6-4 7-6 (7-3) win against Czech Karolina Muchova.
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Iga Swiatek was left completely baffled after she missed at a routine forehand shot in her quarter-final match against Amanda Anisimova at the US Open.
In Wednesday’s quarter-final at the US Open, Anisimova would have faced fears of a nightmarish repeat when Swiatek broke her serve in the opening game.
But she roared back in the next game securing a break of her own and from there they matched one another game by game. Anisimova played with self-belief and a determination to win. She took her chance when it came in the 10th game of the first set.
The American secured two break points as applause from the crowd swelled louder around her.
An attempted return of serve from Anisimova sailed high and wide. But the American attacked aggressively again, drawing out a looping forehand from Swiatek that flew out too long. Anisimova pocketed the first set.
Swiatek responded immediately, securing a break at the start of the second set. It looked like the former champion had upped her level. But Anisimov settled into the set and steadied herself further when she broke back in the fourth game.
Their Wimbledon final might have been a capitulation. This quarter-final at Flushing Meadows was a battle.
With Swiatek starting to threaten, Anisimova held serve winning a magnificent exchange that had sent both charging from one side of the court to the other.
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In the next game the Pole put pressure on herself, sending shots out just wide of the line. But Anisimova couldn’t take advantage.
The American did enjoy a touch of good fortune, a shot clipped the top of the net only to dribble over onto the other side of the court.
That left her in a position where she could put huge pressure on Swiatek’s service game. At 3-4 down in the second set, Swiatek was 0-30 down. The Pole won the next two points but Anisimova hung in to get a break point. Then a double fault from Swiatek handed over the break.
It left Anisimova serving for the match and a place in the semi-finals.
She seized three match points but now under excruciating pressure herself, lost the first two. Then, getting a return in, they exchanged shots and, whether it was luck or destiny, it took another fortuitous bounce off the net into the corner of the court to seal the third and a 6-4 6-3 victory.
‘This has been such a dream’
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Amanda Anisimova played with confidence and self-belief. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)
“Being here is so special and I’ve been having the run of my life here,” Anisimova said afterwards. “The first day I got here I was like: ‘Let’s try and get through one round’, but this has been such a dream and to come back from Wimbledon like that is really special to me.
“I worked so hard to try and turn it around from that and I mean today proved everything for me. I can do it. This is really special.”
Anisimova continued: “She’s one of the toughest players I’ve ever played and I knew I was going to have to dig really deep.
“It was such a such a tough match. I know the scoreline wasn’t three sets or anything, but it truly was a battle for me.”
Testy exchange between Swiatek and a journalist following her loss:
Q. Just generally, it’s been a lot of tennis the last few weeks: Wimbledon, the American tournaments leading up to this, and now this. How tired are you at the moment?
IGA SWIATEK: Well, I don’t know. It’s not like my matches were exhausting here.
Q. Do you feel like a mental break? I’m not talking about the loss as such.
IGA SWIATEK: Why would you say that?
Q. I just wondered. It’s just a lot in a row. Do you look forward to a break?
IGA SWIATEK: Well, talk to people responsible for the schedule. Do you need mental break?
Q. Sorry?
IGA SWIATEK: You look like you need mental break.
Q. I do, yeah.
IGA SWIATEK: Well, then what are you doing here?
Q. Got to get to the end of the tournament.
IGA SWIATEK: Good luck.
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Swiatek took to social media to congratulate Anisimova and explain a “challenging” US Open after being hampered by a foot issue.
“Thank you New York and congratulations Amanda Anisimova – you played amazing. Good luck for the rest of the tournament,” the former world No 1 said.
“As for me… that was great US Swing with a lot of lessons, some amazing memories and more motivation to do better in the future. This time US Open was challenging for me and for my team (I’m really grateful guys, thank you for helping me with this and also big thanks to WTA physios and US Open doctors). Playing matches without practicing on days off, managing foot issue, pushing through a lot… we made it to the quarter-finals with a lot on our plate and I’m pretty proud of what I did in these circumstances. And more importantly of the experience I gained. I’ll be back next year with a lot of determination.
“Now it’s time to get some rest, take care of the body and grind.”
Tale of the tape
Robson: Win testament to how much Anisimova has worked on her mentality
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Laura Robson analyses Anisimova’s quarter-final victory over Swiatek as she reaches her first ever US Open semi-final…
Sky Sports Tennis’ Laura Robson on Anisimova’s victory:
“As she said herself, to come back from the Wimbledon final and respond like that…you just felt it was such a difference already,” said the former British No 1.
“In the second game of the match, when she put a game on the board, you thought: ‘Okay, she can play freely now,’ and she did.
“She had such a clear game-plan of trying to dictate the points, to not let Swaitek play her own game, because we know how Swiatek can rush you from the baseline when she’s feeling her forehand.
“Amanda just took control. The backhand line was outrageous today, as it has been throughout the tournament.
“But to do it on a day like today, the US Open quarter-final, against someone who you just lost to love and love a few weeks prior, is such a testament to how much she’s worked on her mentality and all the work that she’s doing off the court at the moment.”
Unbeatable?
Naomi Osaka is 13-0 in Grand Slams quarterfinals, semi-finals and finals combined.
Osaka’s stellar Grand Slam resurgence continues
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Naomi Osaka defeated Karolina Muchova to reach the semi-finals of the US Open
Osaka, her gem-studded purple dress glittering under the lights, made the semi-finals thanks to a hard-fought win against Muchova, as the Japanese star delivered a battling display to underline her resurgence on the sport’s biggest stage.
Four years after winning the last of her four major titles, the 23rd seed, who returned last season after a lengthy maternity break, stretched her unbeaten run in major quarter-finals to 5-0 and booked a clash with Anisimova.
Anisimova has won each of her two meetings against Osaka, though they haven’t played since the 2022 French Open.
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“It means so much. I’m surprised I’m not crying,” said Osaka, who only two years ago was watching the semi-finals from the stands at Arthur Ashe Stadium. “I was sitting up there watching and hoping I would have an opportunity to play on this court again, so my dreams are coming true. There’s been so much hard work you guys haven’t seen.
“I’m just grateful to my team. It was an incredibly difficult match.
“She is one of the best players in the world. Every time I play against her it’s so difficult.
“Last year she beat me when I had one of my best outfits. I was really upset. I’m just grateful to be here.”
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