'I didn’t fight hard enough for my dreams today': Amanda Anisimova reflects on painful US Open final loss

Amanda Anisimova walked into the interview room at Arthur Ashe Stadium just minutes after falling short in the 2025 US Open final against world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka. Despite the disappointment of losing 6-3, 7-6, the American showed grace, candour, and a determination that suggests this will not be her last shot at a Grand Slam trophy.

The 23-year-old had captured the imagination of the New York crowd during her run to the final, playing bold, aggressive tennis and riding the wave of fan support. “Yeah, it was an amazing atmosphere, of course, and I tried to enjoy the atmosphere as much as I could,” she said. “Especially in the second set, when I started to come back, they were really backing me. I think that was really helpful to try and stay in the match.”

Anisimova admitted the occasion, and perhaps her own nerves, got in the way of her best tennis. In her on-court speech, she confessed she hadn’t “fought hard enough for my dreams today,” a phrase she elaborated on afterwards. “I just felt like throughout the match I wasn’t playing my best tennis. With finals I get a lot of nerves, and it’s something I’m trying to work on. I wish I had played more aggressive,” she explained. Against Sabalenka’s relentless power, those moments of hesitation proved costly.

Still, there was no bitterness in defeat—only honesty. “She was playing amazing, very aggressive, and doing all the right things. She made it very difficult for me today,” Anisimova acknowledged. “I didn’t win today, so of course I didn’t do enough. That’s just the reality, and I have to accept it.”

The roof, the nerves, and the serve

One surprising factor that hampered Anisimova was something entirely outside her control: the roof. With the roof closed during the day session, the glare made serving nearly impossible for her. “It was literally like white, and I couldn’t see the ball when I was serving the whole match,” she said. “There was no way of adjusting because I could not see the ball. That was a huge shock to my system, and it made my serving today very, very difficult.”

Despite that obstacle, she fought to stay competitive, even holding a set point in the second set before Sabalenka closed it out in the tiebreak. “I also usually have a good record in tiebreaks,” she said with a wry smile. “But today I wasn’t serving well, and that hurt me. That’s why she’s number one. She puts in a lot of work, and I really admire her for that.”

Lessons from the journey

If her loss in the 2025 US Open final stings, Anisimova insists it has only deepened her motivation. “Making it to the final is obviously really special, but it would have been a dream come true to win,” she admitted. “Of course, I’m motivated, and I hope I can keep working really hard to give myself more opportunities to be in more and more finals.”

She highlighted the role mindfulness has played in her resurgence. “I try and practice a lot of mindfulness things, calming my nervous system and giving myself the best chance to have energy and a positive mindset throughout the match,” she said. “I’ve honestly done my best with that. Today was better than my last final, but it was still a really tough match.”

Looking ahead

Now in contention for a spot at the season-ending WTA Finals, Anisimova has an even bigger incentive to keep pushing. “At the start of the year, me and my agent joked that qualifying for the Finals would be a goal, but it felt far off then. Now I have a chance to qualify and play in it, and that’s really special,” she said.

For Anisimova, the 2025 US Open may not have delivered the dream ending, but it has cemented her as a contender in the women’s game once again. She leaves New York with the support of the crowd, the lessons of a tough defeat, and the fire to chase down more opportunities. As she put it herself: “I really wanted to give myself the best shot in the final. It just wasn’t enough today, but I’ll keep working for more chances.”