In a stunning upset at the U.S. Open quarterfinals, Amanda Anisimova defeated six-time Grand Slam champion Iga Swiatek with a score of 6-4, 6-3 on Wednesday. This remarkable victory comes less than two months after Anisimova faced a harsh defeat at the hands of Swiatek in the Wimbledon final, where she lost 6-0, 6-0.
Ranked No. 8, Anisimova's triumph marks her third major semifinal appearance and her first at Flushing Meadows. The 24-year-old, who hails from New Jersey and grew up in Florida, expressed her emotions after the match, stating, “To come back from Wimbledon like that is really special to me. I feel like I worked so hard to try and turn around from that. ... Today is really special.”
The powerful strokes and calm demeanor exhibited by Anisimova in Arthur Ashe Stadium stood in stark contrast to her performance at the All England Club on July 12. During the Wimbledon final, she struggled to win just 24 points in a match that lasted only 57 minutes. In a remarkable turnaround, Anisimova surpassed that point total midway through the first set against the No. 2 seed Swiatek, who was the defending U.S. Open champion.
Swiatek, a 24-year-old from Poland, acknowledged Anisimova's capabilities, saying, “Everybody knows how Amanda can play. Yeah, she didn’t play well in Wimbledon, but it’s not like she’s always going to do the same mistakes or feel the same.” The emotional toll of her previous defeat was evident when Anisimova cried during her runner-up speech at Wimbledon. However, Wednesday's match showcased her joy as she addressed an enthusiastic crowd, stating, “Playing here is so freaking special, and I’ve been having the run of my life here.”
Looking ahead, Anisimova aims to reach her second consecutive major final. She is set to face four-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka, who advanced by defeating Coco Gauff and Karolina Muchova in earlier matches. Anisimova's upcoming challenge is significant, as she continues to build on her momentum following this impressive quarterfinal win.
In the early moments of the quarterfinal match, Anisimova faced a challenging start, getting broken immediately after serving first. However, she quickly regrouped and took control of the match, dictating points with her strong flat groundstrokes, which contributed to an impressive total of 23 winners—10 more than Swiatek's count. Anisimova's ability to play cleanly was evident as she recorded only 12 unforced errors throughout the match.
Swiatek struggled with her serve, managing to put in only 50% of her first serves and suffering four breaks. Reflecting on her performance, Swiatek stated, “I couldn’t win today’s match playing like that, serving like that, and with Amanda being so aggressive on the returns.”
In the second set, despite falling behind 2-0, Anisimova once again found her rhythm and quickly regained control. Swiatek's frustration became apparent as she displayed signs of exasperation between points. A critical moment occurred when Swiatek double-faulted, allowing Anisimova to serve out the match and secure her victory.
Summarizing her mindset during the match, Anisimova remarked, “From the get-go, I was trying to fire myself up. She is one of the toughest players I’ve ever played. I knew I was going to have to dig deep.” With this remarkable win, Amanda Anisimova not only avenged her previous loss but also positioned herself as a formidable contender in the ongoing U.S. Open.
