US Open champion Sabalenka hails mindset change after grand slam heartbreaks
Belarusian defends title at Flushing Meadows with straight sets win over Anisimova for first major of 2025
US Open champion Aryna Sabalenka may be nicknamed “The Tiger”, but her New York triumph on Saturday was less about raw aggression and more poise, as the world No 1 steadied herself and regrouped in key moments to claim a fourth grand slam title.
Determined to become the first woman since American great Serena Williams (2012–14) to defend her crown at Flushing Meadows, the Belarusian carried the weight of recent major setbacks to claim a 6-3, 7-6 win over Amanda Anisimova in the final and retain her crown.
After final defeats at Melbourne and Paris, and a Wimbledon semi-final setback against Anisimova, Sabalenka turned all that disappointment into fuel, earning the right to show up to her press conference in party mode, goggles perched on her head and a bottle of champagne in hand.
“After the Australian Open I thought that the right way would be just to forget it and move on, but then the same thing happened at the French Open,” an ecstatic Sabalenka told reporters. “So I figured that, OK, maybe it’s time for me to sit back and to look at those finals and to maybe learn something.
“Going into this final I decided for myself that I’m going to control my emotions. I’m not going to let them take control over me, and doesn’t matter what happens in the match.
“My mindset was just going out there, fight for every point. Doesn’t matter the situation. Just focus on myself and focus on things that I have to do to win the match.”