There is no shortage of storylines in Saturday’s U.S. Open final between Aryna Sabalenka and Amanda Anisimova.
It is a rematch of a Wimbledon semifinal from two months ago, won by Anisimova 6-4, 4-6, 6-4. The American now gets a chance to redeem herself in a Grand Slam championship match, having infamously lost to Iga Swiatek 6-0, 6-0 at the All-England Club.
Of course, those double-bagel demons have already been put to rest. Anisimova avenged that defeat by beating none other than Swiatek in the U.S. Open quarterfinals on Wednesday, pulling off a 6-4, 6-3 upset. The 24-year-old got right back in gear to overcome Naomi Osaka 6-7(4), 7-6(3), 6-3 in a roller-coaster semifinal on Thursday night.
Sabalenka endured a tough test of her own, scraping past Jessica Pegula 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 the first match on Thursday. The world No. 1 is playing well, but she really hasn’t been dominant at any point during this fortnight aside from a routine fourth-round victory over Cristina Bucsa.
What’s especially notable is that Anisimova leads their head-to-head series 6-3. The world No. 9 has won two of their three previous hard-court meetings and she is 3-2 against Sabalenka at Grand Slams.
It’s also worth pointing out that Sabalenka has struggled mightily in this matchup even though she has blasted 43 aces to her opponent’s 23 in their nine encounters. That kind of discrepancy probably won’t be on display in Saturday’s showdown. Anisimova has struck 35 aces through six rounds, averaging more per match than Sabalenka (24 in five matches in instead of six since she got a quarterfinal walkover from Marketa Vondrousova). The top seed has also double-faulted more times per match–17 in five compared to 18 in six for Anisimova.
Finally, Anisimova will have the crowd firmly on her side. Even though Sabalenka should be prepared for that because she is facing an American in the United States, she has rarely handled this kind of situation well in the past. All things considered, this sets up perfectly for an Anisimova upset.
Pick: Anisimova in 3
WWW?
But may she tighten up again in a GS final?? Don’t think it would be another blowout but still at least a bit worried….
I actually thought she would beat Swiatek but that was a qf. Just not sure about a final..
Am definitely rooting for her and definitely think she can beat Saba. Saba very lucky she got a Vondrousova walkover after Marketa played amazing against Ryba. Either of them could have beaten Saba who hasn’t been playing great for a while now…
Agree home crowd will help her. Go Amanda!!!!!
Amanda in 3 ALLEZZZ
Mova in 2…Allez!
This is most probably really a dead even match no matter what the oddsmakers have to say making Saba a nice fav., the only possible edge would be if Anisimova doesn’t come in physically where she needs to be, which it did look like she was feeling the Swiatek match yesterday flexing her neck and shoulders quite a bit and having a spill or to, no doubt the 2 matches have tested her physically, Saba looking to avenge the Wimby match and end the major season on a high is fresher not having played Vondrousova, but it may have disrupted her rhythm, probably 3 sets, Saba in 3 tight ones, 7-5, 4-6, 6-4.
double bagel incoming?