Women’s US Open final locked in as men’s semis take centre stage

Did you sleep well last night? How’s your neck? I hope there’s no cricks or cramps because, if you are a tennis fan, your neck’s lateral movement is going to be tested to its maximum this weekend.

Thus far, the US Open has delivered a thrilling build-up to its championship weekend, with the women’s singles semi-finals concluding in gripping fashion and setting the stage for a highly anticipated final.

Attention now turns to Friday’s competition, where the men’s semi-finals promise equally intense battles for a spot in the final.

See why your neck needs to be in good shape?

Anisimova advances, Sabalenka sails on

American hopeful Amanda Anisimova has carved her path to a first-ever US Open final, stunning Naomi Osaka in a marathon three-set encounter that showcased her flourishing mental toughness.

Under suffocating pressure and battling early woes that saw unforced errors sprayed indiscriminately, Anisimova demonstrated remarkable resilience. She emerged victorious from a bruising, tension-filled clash, securing a 6-7 (4), 7-6 (3), 6-3 win over the multiple Grand Slam champion after a brutal two hours and 56 minutes.

Anisimova, who admitted to “a lot of nerves in the beginning,” found her rhythm deep in the second set, overpowering Osaka in the tie-break and then smothering her with ball speed and sharp direction changes in the decider.

This monumental victory places her in a second consecutive Grand Slam final, following a spectacular revenge win over Iga Swiatek in the previous round.

At just 23, Anisimova is the youngest player since Serena and Venus Williams in 2002 to reach both the Wimbledon and US Open women's singles finals in the same season, a remarkable feat given she took a seven-month mental health break in May 2023.

Naomi Osaka, returning from maternity leave, received praise from Anisimova for her amazing tennis and sterling run in New York, demonstrating her potential return to top form.

Meanwhile, defending champion and world No.1 Aryna Sabalenka also stamped her authority, fighting back from a set down to defeat Jessica Pegula 4-6, 6-3, 6-4.

This victory marks Sabalenka’s third consecutive appearance in the US Open final, her fourth in the last five majors, and seventh Grand Slam final overall.

Her grit and serving power that has come to define her run at the top was evident, with Sabalenka unleashing 43 winners to Pegula's 21 and hitting eight aces. Crucially, her reworked serve, now the backbone of her game, proved decisive, particularly when she staved off four break points in the final set.

Sabalenka notably managed to keep her emotions in check, avoiding the composure collapses that had affected her in other Grand Slam finals this season.

Anisimova will now face Sabalenka in what promises to be a thrilling women's singles final on Saturday.

Friday’s tempting Tennis Menu

Before that, Friday, September 5, marks Day 13 of the US Open and promises a packed schedule at Arthur Ashe Stadium.

The day begins at 6pm (SA Time) with the women's doubles final, featuring top seeds Kateřina Siniaková and Taylor Townsend – champions at the 2025 Australian Open – against the No.3 seeded duo of Canada's Gabriela Dabrowski, a cancer survivor, and New Zealand's Erin Routliffe.

The evening then shifts to the highly anticipated men's singles semi-finals. World No.2 Carlos Alcaraz will clash with Serbian maestro Novak Djokovic in their second meeting at a Grand Slam. Djokovic notably won their previous encounter for the men's singles gold medal at the Olympic Games Paris 2024.

Following this blockbuster, world No.1 Jannik Sinner will battle Canadian underdog Felix Auger-Aliassime.

The winners of these two intense duels are guaranteed a spot in the men's singles final, with the stakes at an all-time high at Flushing Meadows. These matches are set to be a true test of nerve and skill, much like a high-stakes poker game where every hand could change the course of the tournament.