Amanda Anisimova Reveals Emotional Conversation With Naomi Osaka After Reaching US Open Finals

Amanda Anisimova had to dig deep to beat four-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka in the semi-finals of the US Open. The 24-year-old lacked rhythm for most of the match against the Japanese star as she hit just 7 aces compared to Osaka’s 15, but that didn’t matter in the end as she left the Arthur Ashe Stadium the happiest person.

Osaka broke Anisimova in the opening game and almost had a double break before the American star rallied from 0-40 to win her first game. The former champion served well despite the partisan crowd showing support for her opponent and remained solid enough even when Anisimova tried getting back into the match.

Osaka won the first set after a tiebreak. However, it was not until the second set that things began to slowly change for Anisimova. She had been agitated for much of the match and needed her coach, Rick Vleeshouwers, to implore her to focus on the match rather than complaining about things she didn’t like.

That helped Anisimova to gradually find her range as she began applying more groundstrokes against Osaka. She went on to win the second set and in the decider, she began to play more patiently, forcing Osaka to make mistakes. She eventually claimed the victory 6(4), 7-6(3), 6-3 in two hours and 56 minutes.

Anisimova and Osaka have repeatedly expressed their admiration for each other and have opened up about their mental health struggles in the past. During Anisimova’s on-court interview, she revealed that she told the former World No.1 that she was proud of her on the court, particularly since returning from maternity leave:

Naomi is playing amazing tennis. She’s back where she belongs. I told her I am so proud of her after having a baby and playing at this level, it’s insane. She was really giving me a run for the final. I wasn’t sure I’d make it past the finish line, I tried to dig deep and it was a huge fight out there today.

Nonetheless, Osaka will be back in the top 15 of the WTA rankings after the US Open. If she had reached the final and won the title, she would be World No.1 on Monday (September 8), when the rankings are updated. However, following her semi-finals run, she’s expected to rise from World No.24 to No.14.

Amanda Anisimova happy with her mental toughness after reaching back-to-back Grand Slam final

Amanda Anisimova became the youngest player to reach the women’s singles final at Wimbledon and the US Open in a season since Serena Williams and Venus Williams in 2002. The American star fell on her knees after she defeated Naomi Osaka in the semi-finals, as it was just eight weeks since her Wimbledon final demolition against Iga Swiatek.