Aryna Sabalenka Wins ‘This’ Ridiculous Prize Money After Successful US Open Title Defense

The victory carried extra weight given Anisimova’s effort. Unlike her lopsided defeat in the Wimbledon final earlier this year, Anisimova started strong, winning three of the first five games. She also broke Sabalenka while down 5-4 in the second set to extend the contest to a tiebreak. Still, the Belarusian’s composure proved too much.

By defending her US Open crown, Sabalenka became the first woman since Serena Williams to win back-to-back titles in New York. She joined a short list of legends who have done so in the Open Era, including Margaret Court, Billie Jean King, Chris Evert, Martina Navratilova, Steffi Graf, Monica Seles, Venus Williams, and Kim Clijsters. Few players in history have matched that consistency at the tournament.

This season further solidified Sabalenka’s No. 1 ranking. She reached the finals of both the Australian Open and French Open, falling in close matches, and advanced to the semifinals at Wimbledon before losing to Anisimova. Saturday’s victory not only avenged that defeat but also confirmed her standing as the top player in women’s tennis.

Aryna Sabalenka statistically superior to Amanda Anisimova

Top seed Aryna Sabalenka defended her US Open crown with a 6-3, 7-6 (3) win over Amanda Anisimova, becoming the first woman since Serena Williams in 2014 to achieve the feat. The victory capped a year in which the 27-year-old held the top spot in the PIF WTA Rankings and finally claimed her first Slam of the season. It also marked her 100th career Grand Slam match win, giving her a remarkable .794 winning percentage, second only to Iga Swiatek among active players.

Her consistency over the past three years has been unmatched. In 11 major appearances, she has now collected four titles, reached three other finals, advanced to three semifinals, and made one quarterfinal. After coming up short in the Australian and French Open finals and reaching the Wimbledon semifinals, she finally broke through in New York.

Anisimova entered with a 6-3 head-to-head advantage and a game style that had troubled Sabalenka in the past. Her clean ball-striking and aggressive shot-making had been key to deep runs at Wimbledon and this US Open. But under the pressure of her opponent’s steadier play, she struggled to maintain that balance.

The American ended with 29 unforced errors against 22 winners, while Sabalenka produced a more measured stat line of 13 winners and 15 errors. The difference came on key points: The World No.1 converted five of six break chances, showing the composure and efficiency that ultimately secured her fourth Grand Slam title.