Anisimova avenges on home ground, setting two major records; hopes for Swiatek and Sabalenka to meet dashed

As the US Open women's singles approaches its final stages, it seemed the top seeds would remain unshaken, yet Anisimova pulled off the biggest surprise by knocking out world No. 2 Swiatek.

The battle between Anisimova and Swiatek was considered the highlight of this year's US Open women's singles! After being humiliated with a double bagel by the Polish player in the Wimbledon final, everyone was eager to see if Anisimova, now playing on home soil, would suffer another public defeat or use the home advantage to exact revenge successfully against Swiatek.

When asked about her heavy loss at Wimbledon before the match, the American player smiled and expressed great anticipation for the clash with Swiatek, curious to see how it would unfold.

Judging by Anisimova’s calm and confident demeanor before the match, it was clear she was fully prepared to face Swiatek at the US Open, giving the impression she was determined to avenge her previous defeat at all costs.

This made the highly anticipated match even more exciting before it began, as everyone wanted to see whether Swiatek could maintain her cold-blooded killer role under the dual pressure of Anisimova’s comeback and the home crowd, and whether she could eliminate the last American hope in the lower half of the draw, paving the way for the eagerly awaited final showdown with Sabalenka.

From the first set, Swiatek aggressively challenged Anisimova by taking the American’s opening service game, showing a clear intent to dominate early and apply psychological pressure, testing how Anisimova would respond.

What impressed many was that after the crushing defeat at Wimbledon, Anisimova’s mental toughness had clearly improved. Not only did she prevent Swiatek from extending her lead, but she quickly broke back, igniting excitement among fans watching live, with some saying this match would be far from one-sided and full of intensity from the start — “a real treat for everyone.”

The first set remained tightly contested through the first eight games, and just as fans expected a tiebreak to decide the set, Anisimova suddenly surged in the tenth game, breaking Swiatek’s crucial serve to win the set 6-4.

The second set followed a similar pattern! After Swiatek took an early 2-0 lead, many thought the match would be decided in three sets, but once Anisimova rallied to even the score, she seized control from the Polish player.

At the critical moment, Anisimova stayed error-free and closed out the set 6-3, defeating Swiatek and achieving a sweet revenge against the Polish player.

After the match, many felt sympathy for Swiatek, who led early in both sets but failed to maintain her advantage, lost momentum, and eventually was eliminated.

However, some argued this showed the match was evenly matched throughout, with the final outcome decided not only by skill and tactics but by stronger mental resilience — a quality Anisimova clearly demonstrated better in the end.

Post-match statistics showed Anisimova served 3 aces and 2 double faults, with a first serve percentage of 56%, winning 71% of first-serve points and 52% of second-serve points; she hit 23 winners and committed only 12 unforced errors, converting 4 of 9 break points.

Swiatek recorded 2 aces and 3 double faults, with a first serve percentage of 50%, winning 70% of first-serve points and 33% of second-serve points; she made 13 winners but had 15 unforced errors.

The stats reveal that Anisimova performed more consistently in crucial moments and handled key points and games better than Swiatek; combined with superior mental toughness, this allowed her to triumph in this Wimbledon final rematch.

Following her victory over Swiatek, Anisimova earned $1.26 million in prize money (approximately 9 million RMB) and set two records: first, becoming the first American woman since the Williams sisters to reach the semifinals on clay, grass, and hard courts; second, becoming the youngest player since Kuznetsova in 2009 to defeat two top-2 ranked players in a single Grand Slam season.

Swiatek’s defeat also ended hopes of a final showdown between her and Sabalenka at the US Open, hopes that were shattered by Anisimova’s win. Whether fans will ever witness these two tennis giants face off on a Grand Slam’s ultimate stage depends not only on fate but also on whether spectators are lucky enough to see it!(Source: Tennis Home, Author: Moonlit River Starry Sky)