Key events
Sabalenka will surely be a heavy favorite in the final. She was the most impressive of the four players in action in this long, long doubleheader session of tennis. Anisimova will need to cut down on the errors if she’s to pose any sort of challenge.
But these are two players who showed a tremendous capacity for hitting unexpected winners. To use boxing terms, it’s a heavyweight contest. In chess terms, it’s a grandmaster battle. In poker terms, both players have pocket aces. In esports terms, both players have much better computers than I have.
Thanks for following along with us tonight / this morning / whatever time it is where you are. Enjoy the final.
Amanda Anisimova beats Naomi Osaka 6-7, 7-6, 6-3
Another gutsy win, and it’s another major final for the one-time teen prodigy who, after a break to deal with burnout and grief, looks to be in top form.
“[Reaching the final] means the world,” says Anisimova. “I’m trying to process that right now, it’s a dream come true. The hope is to be the champion but I’m in the final now and I’m excited.”
She also pays tribute to her opponent. “She is playing amazing tennis, I’m so proud of her after having a baby and returning to this level. I had to dig deep,” she says. “I tried to stay positive – there were a lot of nerves at the beginning. This tournament means so much and I think that was getting to me.”
Third set: *Osaka 7-6 6-7 3-6 Anisimova Anisimova hits a poised second serve and gets on the board first. A big-time backhand takes her within two points of the final. She hits long on the next point but is on target with the backhand again. Double match point.
Osaka fends off the first one. Every time she seems to be done, she hits a big shot.
And my wi-fi crashes …. which means I nearly miss the denouement, in which Anisimova is this close to blowing her chance to seal the game, She hits a double fault and collapses to deuce, and needs to save two break points before battling back to squeeze home. On the final rally a whipped forehand is too good for Osaka, who can only parry the ball into the net. Both players looked VERY nervous as that match ended.
Third set: Osaka 7-6 6-7 3-5 Anisimova* (* – denotes next server): How is she still hitting these aces? That’s 15, and it’s 15-15, appropriately. She elicits a couple of errors from Anisimova and holds. Anisimova will serve for the match.
Third set: *Osaka 7-6 6-7 2-5 Anisimova (* – denotes next server): Seems like it’s been a while since Anisimova was routinely dumping her shots into the net, but that’s where the first one goes in this game. Next is an ace, then an Osaka error. The next serve is nearly an ace, as Osaka barely gets a racket to it. Osaka hangs in the next rally for a few swings but hits into the net, and she’ll serve to stay in the match.
Third set: Osaka 7-6 6-7 2-4 Anisimova* (* – denotes next server): Somehow, Osaka is able to come up with big serves still. Her 13th ace makes it 30-15. Her 14th closes it out.
Third set: *Osaka 7-6 6-7 1-4 Anisimova (* – denotes next server): Osaka’s still moving, but we have to wonder how much that foot is bothering here. Anisimova smells blood, and she winds up a bit too much on a double fault to make it 30-15. She follows with an ace and then drills another winner past a flat-footed Osaka, who looks like this has gotten away from her.
Third set: Osaka 7-6 6-7 1-3 Anisimova* (* – denotes next server): A trainer came out to work on Osaka’s foot during the changeover. She watches an Anisimova winner zoom by to make it 0-30, comes back with an ace, then dumps it into the net for double break point. Anisimova smashes Osaka’s second serve back at her, and Osaka can only hit it back into the net. Break
Third set: *Osaka 7-6 6-7 1-2 Anisimova (* – denotes next server): Osaka gets aggressive with her returns, and it backfires. After winning the first point, she loses the next three, and Anisimova closes with an ace.
Third set: Osaka 7-6 6-7 1-1 Anisimova* (* – denotes next server): Anisimova battles to 30-30, but Osaka hits another ace and forces an errant return to take the game.
Third set: *Osaka 7-6 6-7 0-1 Anisimova (* – denotes next server): Anisimova drops the first two points and then rattles off four in a row with nary a fuss.
Anisimova has 34 winners and 36 unforced errors.
Osaka has 24 winners and 22 unforced errors. She also has 10 aces to Anisimova’s four.
Amanda Anisimova wins second set in tiebreaker
You didn’t need to sleep tonight, did you?
More second-set tiebreak
Service winner for Osaka stops the run. 4-1
Anisimova stuns Osaka with a backhand winner across her body. 5-1
Osaka gets back on the board with a tremendous return. 5-2
Anisimova returns the favor. 6-2, four set points …
Second-set tiebreak
Osaka hits long. Mini-break. 1-0 Anisimova.
Osaka hits into the net. 2-0.
Osaka hits long. 3-0. The crowd has woken up at midnight.
Osaka hits long. 4-0.
Second set: Osaka 7-6 6-6 Anisimova: Osaka strikes first to move three points away, but Anisimova outlasts her on the second point and hits three brilliant shots to wrap up the game in a matter of seconds.
To tiebreak we go …
Second set: Osaka 7-6 6-5 Anisimova* (* – denotes next server): A brilliant shot from Anisimova – Osaka started to go over to cover it but stopped, maybe thinking it was going out – makes it 15-30. Anisimova forces Osaka into a bad shot, and it’s double break point. Osaka wins the next point and gets a bad return from Anisimova. Deuce. Ace. Ad, Osaka.
The match has hit the two-hour mark. This is turning into a nightmare for those of us with teaching assignments in the morning.
Osaka crashes a shot into the net but comes back with two forehand winners, the second from an acute angle nearly around the net, to move within a game of victory.
Second set: *Osaka 7-6 5-5 Anisimova (* – denotes next server): Put the third-set talk on hold. Osaka plays a couple of great points, and it’s 0-40. Anisimova gets one back but then double faults. Back on serve.
Second set: Osaka 7-6 4-5 Anisimova* (* – denotes next server): An ace puts Osaka up 40-0.
Then Anisimova takes control, Osaka hits several errors … and it’s a break.
Anisimova will serve for the set.
Second set: *Osaka 7-6 4-4 Anisimova (* – denotes next server): Like Sabalenka in the last match, when Anisimova hits well, she’s simply dazzling. Easy hold, and the previously somnambulant crowd has come to life.
Second set: Osaka 7-6 4-3 Anisimova* (* – denotes next server): Anisimova has gone, over the course of 99 minutes, from stoic acceptance of the occasional bad shot to hitting herself in the head with her racket.
An Osaka ace makes it 40-15. Anisimova keeps her poise through a couple of big shots to make it 40-30. A good Osaka serve keeps Anisimova off balance, and a couple of shots later, Anisimova fires long.
Second set: *Osaka 7-6 3-3 Anisimova (* – denotes next server): Anisimova really isn’t concealing her emotions any more. A double fault makes it 0-30, and she looks like she just backed her car into a tree.
But, again, Osaka has started to misfire as well. 15-30. 30-30.
The net cord again conspires to redirect an Anisimova shot wide. Break point.
Anisimova hits several feet long, and she lets out a scream even before it lands. We’re back on serve.
Second set: Osaka 7-6 2-3 Anisimova* (* – denotes next server): At 30-30, Osaka had a mostly open court but hit long. Break point. Fault. Let. Anisimova hits a big return but then clanks her next shot off the net cord, and it deflects long.
But Osaka is making errors, too. She hits out a couple of times, and Anisimova breaks.
Second set: *Osaka 7-6 2-2 Anisimova (* – denotes next server): We haven’t seen as many clever drop shots in this match as we did in tonight’s opener, but Anisimova opens this game with a beauty. Osaka scrambles to get there but can’t get the shot over the net. Anisimova immediately undoes her progress with two errors, both wide. Third time’s a charm, and the ball stays on the correct side of the line this time to take it to 30-all. An ace makes it 40-30. An error – hit long this time – brings up deuce, and Anisimova appears to arguing with some demonic forces or the laws of physics.
One way not to hit long is try a drop shot, and that’s another good one from Anisimova. Osaka returns, but Anisimova easily hits into the open court.
They trade errors, going to deuce and back. Then Anisimova gets creative with a changeup on her serve that Osaka returns long. We’re still on serve.
Second set: Osaka 7-6 2-1 Anisimova* (* – denotes next server): In terms of quality, this is not up to the level of the first semi-final.
As I type that, Osaka rips her seventh ace of the match past Anisimova like a fastball past a batter a little ways over to where the Mets play, and she finishes the game with a big winner, quickly making everyone forget that the game was at deuce.
Second set: *Osaka 7-6 1-1 Anisimova (* – denotes next server): Anisimova unleashes a big serve to go up 30-15. On her next point, she hits the ball … can you guess where? That’s 24 unforced errors along with a lot of “forced” errors, and the vast majority of them have hit the net. If she were in the NWSL right now, she’d lead the league in scoring.
To mix things up a bit, she gives up the break by hitting long instead.
Maddening match if you have a strong rooting interest for the resurgent US player. Such a mix of brilliance and shocking misfires.
Second set: Osaka 7-6 0-1 Anisimova* (* – denotes next server): The good news for Anisimova is that her hot and cold form ran hot again, and she has opened the second set with a break. The bad news is that she just fell awkwardly as she hit the ball. She’s up and playing now, but as we’ve seen, once a tennis player feels a tweak somewhere, bad things can happen.
Naomi Osaka wins the first set 7-6
After falling behind 6-1, Anisimova rallies with two good service points. Then the automated officiating system malfunctions, announcing “fault” after the ball has crossed the net multiple times. The umpire awards that point to Anisimova to make it 6-4, but the gap is too much to make up, and yet another unforced error ends the set.
First-set tiebreaker: Anisimova 1-5 Osaka. Anisimova again dumps a shot into the net. Osaka goes back on serve and gets an ace to take a commanding lead.
First-set tiebreaker: Anisimova 1-3 Osaka. An Anisimova double fault is our first mini-break of the tiebreaker.
First set: Anisimova 6-6 Osaka: An Osaka ace interrupts the parade of Anisimova winners, but only briefly. Anisimova moves within two points of the set but then dumps yet another unforced error into the net. Osaka catches Anisimova going the wrong way, and it’s 40-30. Anisimova hits long, and we’re off to a tiebreaker.
First set: Anisimova 6-5 Osaka* (* – denotes next server): Anisimova has found her form, at least in terms of hitting winners. She closes out her service game with aplomb. Can she break and take the set?
First set: *Anisimova 5-5 Osaka (* – denotes next server): Suddenly, Osaka is the one making errors, and she faces three break points. Anisimova gives one back, hitting into the net yet again and having a conversation with herself. But then she hits a forehand return straight down the line, and we’re back on serve.
First set: Anisimova 4-5 Osaka* (* – denotes next server): Much, much better from Anisimova this time. Precise shots all around, and she holds with ease.
So far, Osaka has hit four winners. Anisimova has 16 unforced errors.
First set: *Anisimova 3-5 Osaka (* – denotes next server): Solid play from Anisimova gets her halfway to a break. Osaka takes the next point but then has some trouble handling Anisimova’s power. Double break point. Osaka saves the first, and then Anisimova follows a terrific return with an unforced error into the net.
Are they sure the sensors on the near baseline are working? Not for the first time tonight, a shot that certainly looked long was not flagged, and a flustered Anisimova falls behind. A powerful winner brings up deuce again, but a return sails long to give Osaka the advantage again. Anisimova just can’t keep herself from hitting long, and now she must serve to stay in the set.
First set: Anisimova 3-4 Osaka* (* – denotes next server): Anisimova muddles to 30-30, then unleashes an ace. She nearly wraps things up with another strong serve, but Osaka defends it well and fires back several more times before Anisimova misses. Deuce.
Anisimova takes the next point and smashes a shot to win the game … but it goes long! She takes the next point with a dazzling backhand winner, and she closes out the game with a serve that Osaka can’t return cleanly.
First set: *Anisimova 2-4 Osaka (* – denotes next server): After watching Sabalenka groan and grimace through so many errors in the first semi, it’s strange seeing two players who seem unperturbed by their mistakes here. And Osaka seems almost sad as she taps a ball away following another Anisimova error to close out a routine hold.
First set: Anisimova 2-3 Osaka* (* – denotes next server): Anisimova runs into trouble again with a succession of unforced errors. Now she’s facing two break points. She hits a big serve, but Osaka returns well, scrambles back to the middle of the court, returns again, and Anisimova hits long. Osaka breaks again.
First set: *Anisimova 2-2 Osaka (* – denotes next server): Anisimova’s run in the last game has taken Osaka out of her groove. Two errors bring up two break points. Then Anisimova pounces on Osaka’s second serve to hit a clean forehand winner, and we’re back on serve.
First set: Anisimova 1-2 Osaka* (* – denotes next server): This looks like the Naomi Osaka who has won this tournament before, and this does not look like the Amanda Anisimova who reached the Wimbledon final and beat Iga Swiatek to get to this match.
Osaka wins three points with the calm demeanor of someone stirring her tea. Anisimova finally perks up a bit after a rare Osaka error, forcing the action in the next point. And again, and now it’s deuce. Then a big serve prompts a high arcing return from Osaka, and Anisimova calmly gets under it for the smash. Osaka hits long on the next point, and Anisimova has held the hard way, taking five straight points after falling behind 0-40.
First set: *Anisimova 0-2 Osaka (* – denotes next server): The pace seems rather languid as Osaka holds at love. It’s as if one player has been here several times before and the other has not.
First set: Anisimova 0-1 Osaka* (* – denotes next server): Anisimova starts with two quick points, but perhaps that creates a false sense of security. Just like that, Osaka has break point. Anisimova then hits a perfect crosscourt winner – just kidding, it’s a little bit wide, and Osaka breaks.
Second semi underway
Anisimova serving …
On to the next one …
Naomi Osaka was a few steps beyond “subdued” in her prematch interview. She sounds like she’s recording a meditation tape.
Amanda Anisimova stops to put away her phone.
“It was a really tough match. I had to work hard to get this win. She’s such a g eat player, such a great fighter. Hopefully I can go all the way again. And thank you guys for bringing the best atmosphere.”
The crowd will be against her again in the final, though. They like Sabalenka. They love US players like Anisimova, and Osaka has certainly endeared herself to this crowd over the years.
Back with the second match next, and yes, we’re going to be going well past my bedtime.
Aryna Sabalenka defeats Jessica Pegula 4-6, 6-3, 6-4
The US veteran put up as much of a fight as anyone possibly could against the overpowering world No. 1 and defending champion. At times, Sabalenka looked like she was going to break a racket over her own head out of frustration with her own inability to put the 31-year-old away.
But for every error, there was a winner or a devastating serve.
Pegula stays alive! Sabalenka comes to the net and is perplexed when Pegula drops a shot onto her feet. That doesn’t seem physically possible.
Sabalenka’s next serve is nigh unreturnable. Match point.
Unbelievable! Sabalenka had an overhead smash to win this semi-final, and she hits straight into the net. Deuce.
The umpire is admonishing the crowd to be quiet. Sabalenka makes plenty of noise, though, hitting each corner to leave Pegula no chance. Match point again.
Sabalenka hits wide. Pegula is just so much more patient, and that has kept this match close. 30-30.
Ace. So close to the line that everyone waited for confirmation. Match point. Crowd roars.
Sabalenka serving for the match …
Sabalenka wins the first point, but the net cord is unkind on the second, popping her shot up into the air to give Pegula all day to get her feet set for the winner.
Pegula hits long. 30-15. Two points away.
Also, Pegula has covered 32 feet per point, while Sabalenka has only needed to cover 28.5.
STATS
Aces: Sabalenka 7-3
Double faults: 4 each
Winners: Sabalenka 40-20
Unforced errors: Sabalenka 26-14
Third set: *Sabalenka 4-6 6-3 5-4 Pegula (* – denotes next server). Pegula certainly isn’t overpowering on her serve, but for the last several service games, she has had pinpoint control of every shot. She again holds at love. Can she finally get the break that has barely eluded her on her last two tries?
This is compelling stuff.
Third set: Sabalenka 4-6 6-3 5-3 Pegula* (* – denotes next server). The big difference in this match is that, while Pegula can hit a winner with some deception and creativity to set things up, Sabalenka can hit a winner from anywhere on the court. Maybe even the stands. Maybe even the parking lot.
But again, is she overcooking it? She alternates winners and errors, then double faults to bring up break point. She flings her racket to the ground but avoids cross comments from the chair umpire. She regains composure to win the next two points quickly. Then Pegula conjures a drop shot out of nowhere, and Sabalenka scrambles but can only hit in the net.
Once again, Pegula is making Sabalenka earn this every step of the way. And while Sabalenka has had her share of errors, for the most part, this is superb tennis, with both players raising their games after a downturn about a half hour ago.
But once again, Sabalenka just dominates a couple of points by brute force. Pegula now faces the pressure of serving to stay in the match.
Third set: *Sabalenka 4-6 6-3 4-3 Pegula (* – denotes next server). Pegula would surely love to have that first game of this set back, because she has been superb since then, forcing Sabalenka to the limit when she’s returning and then dominating her own service games. She holds at love about as routinely as anyone can hold at love against the world’s No. 1 player.
Third set: Sabalenka 4-6 6-3 4-2 Pegula* (* – denotes next server). Is Sabalenka getting overeager here? She has a lot of open court to hit, but she overcooks it and flings it wide to make it 15-30. Then Pegula hits a solid drop shot, Sabalenka swings hard but sends it right to Pegula, and a quick-reaction volley leaves Sabalenka no chance. Double break point.
A thrilling point follows. Sabalenka comes to the net, hits a drop shot, and scrambles back to smash a Pegula lob.
That gets Sabalenka back on track, and she hits a pinpoint backhand winner. Deuce.
Or does it? Shot goes long, and it’s break point again. The crowd erupts – it’s definitely not anti-Sabalenka, but Pegula is a US player still in search of that long-awaited breakthrough, and this is New York.
But the defending champion just has so much power. Two booming points, and she’s serving to erase Pegula’s best chance to stay in the match.
And yet … the rush of blood to the head strikes again (apologies to Coldplay fans). Double fault, and Sabalenka is literally hopping mad at herself. No matter – she forces Pegula to scramble to send a high return that barely lands on Sabalenka’s side of the net, and she’s able to hit one of the easier smashes of her career. One more powerful serve, and she has seen off Pegula’s best challenge of the set.
