I didn’t fight hard enough for my dreams – Anisimova

US Open 2025

Dates: August 24 through September 7 in Flushing Meadows, New York

As Aryna Sabalenka lifted the US Open trophy high into the air, a teary-eyed Amanda Anisimova glared at nothing.

The American lost to the American in a Grand Slam final for the second time in 57 days, but the circumstances are significantly different.

Anisimova lost to Iga Swiatek 6-0 in her first-ever major final at Wimbledon in July, but she can hold her head high despite losing to Sabalenka 6-3 7-6 (7-3).

Few people supported the 24-year-old after her agonizing SW19 defeat, but Anisimova showed incredible mental strength to reach Saturday’s final at Flushing Meadows.

Anisimova reflected on the defeat, noting that she had struggled enough to achieve her dreams.

I’m working on getting ready for the finals, but I’m hoping to play more aggressively.

I think I might have had a better chance of survival if I had fought harder.

Sabalenka, the world’s number one, is more informed than anyone about Anisimova’s emotions.

Sabalenka won her fourth Grand Slam singles title with victory in New York, but she also lost two of her previous two grand finals, two of which were this year.

Sabolenka told Anisimova, “I know how painful it hurts.”

Anisimova’s run over the past two weeks will have had a significant impact on her previous major final performance, when she faced Naomi Osaka, a two-time US Open champion, in the semi-finals.

Anisimova sat up in front of the closed roof as the music played and the stage was set up for the Arthur Ashe trophy ceremony. She then sat up and cried.

As Sabalenka raced through the crowd to celebrate with her team, it was a moment of reflection for the American.

Former British number one Annabel Croft said Anisimova has an “unbelievable sense of character” and that leaning on will help her recover stronger once more in a speech on BBC Radio 5 Live.

The world number eight admitted to crying for 30 minutes before speaking with a friend and “joking it off” after seeing how quickly she recovered from her Wimbledon defeat.

This time around, the rebuilding might be a little simpler.

Every great story has its moments of a twist, and Anisimova’s does just that.

After a successful junior career, which included beating Coco Gauff to win the US Open girls’ title in 2017, she has long been tipped to compete in Grand Slams.

However, she struggled to gain any recognition in the professional ranks, so she took a seven-month break in 2023 to concentrate on her mental health.

Anisimova also showed resilience by making it to the final in the same year that she qualified for Wimbledon in 2024.

On BBC Radio 5 Live, Croft declared, “I am so admiring of Anisimova.

The Wimbledon final was embarrassing and humiliating, respectively. She is so difficult to see sobbing.

She said, “It probably wasn’t as bad as she thought it was when I lost against Sabalenka.” She snuck into her head briefly, which prevented her from using her serve. She’ll come back, ” “

Martina Navratilova, the 18-time Grand Slam champion, urged Anisimova to “be nicer to herself.”

Navratilova stated on Sky Sports, “Anisimova has had a great summer. She has had nothing to hang her head about.”

She would have been thrilled if someone had informed her that she would have competed in the Wimbledon and US Open finals.