From Double Bagel Humiliation to Perfect Revenge: Anisimova’s Magical US Open Journey

In just 52 days, moving from Wimbledon’s grass to New York’s hard courts, Anisimova turned a humiliating double bagel final loss into a commanding straight-sets victory in the semifinals. Her 6-4, 6-3 triumph became one of the most remarkable reversals in women’s tennis.

The Wimbledon final on July 13 marked the lowest point in Anisimova’s career. Against world No. 2 Swiatek, she was totally defeated, dropping 12 games in a row and losing by a double bagel. This was the first time in WTA final history that a 6-0, 6-0 scoreline occurred, later described by media as “a gentle execution.”

Meeting again after 52 days, Anisimova’s transformation was astonishing. She hit 23 winners, 10 more than her opponent, and achieved a first-serve win rate of 71%. Dramatically, in the last two crucial games, she clinched break and match points twice thanks to lucky net cords, as if fate was compensating for the Wimbledon final.

“From the first day of the US Open, I told myself to focus on passing the first round,” Anisimova revealed after the match, showing her step-by-step strategy. She cruised past Burel in the first round, edged Joint in a tiebreak in the second, battled through three sets to eliminate Christian in the third, and then comfortably defeated 18th seed Maya with a double bagel in the fourth round, completing a psychological and technical evolution.

Technical stats from this match show that Anisimova:

· Had a return win rate of 48% (a 32% increase from Wimbledon)

· Achieved an 83% success rate at the net (up 41% from Wimbledon)

· Increased her backhand down-the-line winners by 57%

Behind these numbers lies her team’s precise analysis of Swiatek’s spin serves and a decisive tactical shift to “attack the rise point and play aggressively at the net.”

This advancement made Anisimova the sixth player in the Open Era to win the next Grand Slam after suffering a double bagel; and marked her third career Grand Slam semifinal appearance (2019 French Open, 2025 Wimbledon, 2025 US Open).

Tennis legend Chris Evert commented during the broadcast: “This is the best example of mental toughness in modern tennis—drawing strength from trauma instead of being destroyed by it.”

When Anisimova clenched her fist and shouted on Arthur Ashe Stadium, she not only avenged her loss but also embodied the most inspiring story in competitive sports: rising stronger after falling. This victory transcended mere technical skill, becoming a testament to courage and resilience.

As she said, “To come out of the Wimbledon shadow and fight my way into the semifinals feels like a dream.” And now, that dream continues. In the US Open semifinals, another chance to surpass herself awaits.(Source: Tennis Home Author: Mei)