Aryna Sabalenka Defends US Open Crown, Becomes First to Repeat Since 2014

When Aryna Sabalenka, the World No. 1 from Belarus, lifted the trophy at the 2025 US OpenUSTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on September 6, she made history by defending her title – a feat not seen since Serena Williams in 2014.

Why this win matters

The final, staged in Flushing Meadows, New York, pitted Sabalenka against 23‑year‑old American Amanda Anisimova. A 6‑3, 7‑6 (7‑3) victory gave Sabalenka her fourth Grand Slam crown, all on hard courts, and marked her 100th major‑match win. The win also cemented her lead in the Women's Tennis Association rankings released on October 1, 2025, where she sits comfortably ahead of Poland’s Iga Świątek (No. 2) and America’s Coco Gauff (No. 3).

Match breakdown: power, poise and a tiebreak thriller

Sabalenka’s game plan was simple – use her booming serve to push Anisimova deep, then finish points at the baseline. She rattled off 13 winners but also logged 15 unforced errors, a trade‑off that paid off when she seized the first set 6‑3. The second set turned into a nerve‑wracking duel. Anisimova broke Sabalenka’s serve at 5‑4, threatening to swing momentum. Yet the Belarusian, who entered 2025 with a 20‑1 record in tiebreaks, regrouped and stormed the tiebreak 7‑3, sealing the match.

Player reactions and celebration plans

During the trophy ceremony at Arthur Ashe Stadium – the iconic venue within the same complex – Sabalenka thanked her coaching crew, saying, “I mean it’s been tough this year with those finals. I was really terrible towards you, but come on. Worth it, right? Thank you so much. I love you. You’re my family.” She then told US Open media that she intended to “have some drinks at the bar on site to start my celebration” because, in her own words, “you have to enjoy it after all of the hard work.”

Historic milestones beyond the final

While Sabalenka grabbed the headlines, the tournament was a parade of firsts:

• 19‑year‑old Victoria Jiménez Kasintseva became the first Andorran ever to appear in a Grand Slam main draw.
• 20‑year‑old Alexandra Maniego Eala earned a place in history as the first Filipino to win a singles main‑draw match at a major.
• 32‑year‑old Renata Zarazúa recorded Mexico’s first women’s‑singles top‑10 victory at the US Open.
• Veteran Venus Williams, aged 45, received a wildcard, becoming the oldest competitor in the singles draw since Renée Richards in 1981.

Meanwhile, the event also marked the swan songs of two former world‑No. 2s: Czech two‑time Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitová and French 2022 WTA Finals champion Caroline Garcia both bowed out in the first round on August 26.

Ranking ripple effects and the road ahead

Sabalenka’s dominant 56‑10 season record pushes her year‑end win‑loss tally to an impressive 20‑3 overall for 2025. With $12,133,419 in career prize money, she now tops a field where Iga Świątek holds a 49‑8 record and Coco Gauff sits at 45‑7. The WTA’s points table shows Sabalenka leading by more than 2,400 points – a cushion that should survive the early‑season swing in Melbourne when the 2026 Australian Open kicks off on January 19.

Why this matters for women’s tennis

Defending a Grand Slam is rare on the women’s side; apart from Serena’s 2014 US Open repeat, only a handful of players have managed it. Sabalenka’s achievement signals a shift from a decade of Polish‑American rivalry to a new era dominated by a Belarusian powerhouse. Her aggressive baseline style, combined with a mental edge in high‑pressure moments, could influence coaching philosophies worldwide.