Breaking the ‘unpredictable’ tag, Aryna Sabalenka turns lessons into legacy at US Open

Aryna Sabalenka defended her US Open crown in style, beating Amanda Anisimova 6-3, 7-6(3) for her fourth Grand Slam title and 100th major match win. The world No. 1 celebrated in a shimmering silver jacket that matched her trophy, blending grit with glamour on a rain-soaked New York night to become the first repeat champion since Serena Williams.

Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)

NEW DELHI: At a Grand Slam where fashion goes hand-in-hand with tennis, it was Aryna Sabalenka who had the last laugh at Flushing Meadows. More than that, she created a lasting impression on and off the court while it rained outside the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Queens, New York. On the court, she beat Amanda Anisimova 6-3, 7-6 (3) to successfully defend her US Open title. In the process, she pocketed her fourth Grand Slam title and 100th victory at majors. And at the trophy ceremony, the fashion supremacy kicked in as the Belarusian wore a metallic silver jacket, matching perfectly with the silver of the trophy she had received from 18-time major champion Chris Evert.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW! Sabalenka has four now, in comparison, including two at the US Open, winning back-to-back titles. No one had won two in a row at Flushing Meadows since Serena Williams in 2013-14. Before the tournament began, she was asked about this long run.

"Wow, that's insane, you know, how unpredictable women's tennis is, right? Should we change it? Should we try at least to change it?" said the 27-year-old, before adding, "My thought is to change that." And she changed that successfully on Saturday evening with the roof closed over Arthur Ashe Stadium. Despite what the scoreline suggests, it wasn't all smooth sailing as she would have liked. Sabalenka, who likes to express her feelings on court, and lets her box know in the process, started slowly as Anisimova forced her into the corner. And that is one position Sabalenka doesn't enjoy. She was shoved into that place during the French Open final loss to Coco Gauff, acknowledging how stressed she got against the American in Paris. This time, too, she was broken at 3-2 in the opening set and smacked the ball away in frustration. Instead, she won the next four games, as Anisimova's risk-reward game of winners to unforced errors tipped towards 13-15. Sabalenka converted all three of her break point chances, served better, returned better, kept the error rate down. In fact, she made three unforced errors in the first five games and made none in the next four. Then in the second set, the World No. 1 twice led by a break, served for the title at 5-4 and came within two points of closing it out. An overhead had her backpedalling, and the smash went flush into the middle of the net. Anisimova converted the break point, and the 24,000 fans were up on their feet.

Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

Was this going to be the breaking point for Sabalenka? And the turning point for New Jersey-born Anisimova? Not quite. About 15 minutes later, Sabalenka was on her knees, both her hands covering her face in jubilation, having just converted her third match point opportunity in the tiebreak. That her first major of the year, after two painful final losses to Americans, came in a tiebreak felt fitting. It extended her record to 21-1 in breakers this season, including 19 in a row, and underscored that the defeat to Gauff in Paris was a rare blip. “All those tough lessons (were) worth this one,” Sabalenka said. “I’m speechless right now.” “It’s been tough this year. In those finals, I was really terrible. But come on, it’s worth it, right? Thank you so much. I love you; you’re my family. Thank you to my boyfriend — without your support, I wouldn’t be able to make it,” she continued. As the silver jacket shimmered under the artificial Arthur Ashe lights, Sabalenka’s victory felt bigger than the previous three. It was the culmination of a season in which she turned lessons from painful defeats into fuel, and a reminder that women’s tennis, often accused of unpredictability, now has a figure who is setting the tone at the very top. Her brash energy on court, the roars, the clenched fist directed at her team are contrasts to the poise and flair she projects once the battle is over. Few athletes today blur the lines between raw emotion and refined spectacle quite like Sabalenka; and in New York, the stage rewards both.

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