US Open : Anisimova outlasts Osaka in late-night epic
American Amanda Anisimova battled from a set down to defeat two-time champion Naomi Osaka 6-7, 7-6, 6-3 in a late-night thriller at the US Open
Amanda Anisimova, US Open 2025 | © Chryslène Caillaud
In a marathon three-set epic that stretched into the early hours of Friday morning, American Amanda Anisimova secured her place in the US Open final, overcoming two-time champion Naomi Osaka 6-7, 7-6, 6-3 in a grueling semifinal clash. This highly anticipated showdown between the No. 8 seed Anisimova and No. 23 seed Osaka was a battle of wills that lasted for two hours and 56 minutes.
In a match filled with dramatic swings and momentum shifts, Anisimova booked her spot in a second consecutive Grand Slam final, following her runner-up finish at Wimbledon earlier this year, and ended a remarkable winning streak for her opponent. For the first time in her career, Osaka has lost a Grand Slam semifinal, a surprising turn for a player who had previously won a title every time – four times – she reached the final four of a major.
However, a stat sheet revealed a different story beneath the close scoreline, with Anisimova hitting an impressive 50 winners to Osaka’s 32. But the Japanese star was steadier on the unforced error count, committing just 27 to Anisimova’s 45. For once maybe, Osaka met a more intense high-risk, high-reward style of play than hers.
Osaka started well
The match began with both players fighting for every point, a testament to the high stakes and their shared hard-court prowess. Osaka, with her powerful, precise groundstrokes, won the first set in a tense tiebreak, which alone lasted for 61 minutes.
The second set proved to be the pivotal moment of the match. Anisimova, who came into the tournament with a career-best 36 tour-level wins in 2025, found her rhythm and began to dictate play. Despite trailing, she showed the mental fortitude that has defined her season, rallying to win the second set, also in a tiebreak, after a grueling 71 minutes.
As the clock ticked past midnight and the match entered its third and final set, a noticeable shift occurred. Anisimova’s relentless aggression seemed to wear down Osaka. The American, who had not dropped a set to Osaka in their two prior meetings, broke her opponent’s serve early in the decider. With Anisimova’s first serve points won percentage at 66% and Osaka’s at 68%, the difference often came down to the second serve. Osaka’s second-serve win percentage of 33% was a major vulnerability, while Anisimova was able to win 47% of her second-serve points.
A final Sabalenka – Anisimova
The final game was a microcosm of the entire match, with both players leaving everything on the court. Anisimova, who had been building momentum all tournament, seemed to take control, but not without a final dramatic exchange. In this last game, a powerful return from Osaka sent Anisimova sprawling to the ground, a symbolic culmination of a hard-fought match.
Osaka, who will return to the top 20 for the first time since 2022, was also gracious in defeat. With this victory, Anisimova moves on to face top seed and defending champion Aryna Sabalenka in what promises to be a powerful final. The American’s journey, which saw her climb into the top 10 for the first time following her Wimbledon final appearance, now has the potential for a fairytale ending at her home Grand Slam.
