Thursday, September 04, 2025

US.11- Back in Her New York Groove











=DAY 11 NOTES=
...a lot can change in a few short months. Just ask Amanda Anisimova.

Just two months ago, the Bannerette fully re-emerged from the career fog of the mental stress that had previously forced her off tour, playing into her maiden slam final at Wimbledon, only to see the experience be anything but what she -- or anyone in her place -- would have hoped for, as in a 6-0/6-0 loss to Iga Swiatek, the first double-bagel major final in 37 years.

But, to her credit, Anisimova has learned, as difficult as it might be at times, to takes things in stride, or risk drowning in the aftermath. She didn't let her Wimbledon exit linger and play on her mind as the summer has gone on and, by reaching her first U.S. Open QF, today suddenly found herself in the position of being able to *truly* back up her healthy reaction to her loss to Swiatek, as she once again found the Pole on the other side of the net from her in a major.

This time things went quite differently.



After being broken in the opening game of the match, her thirteenth straight game lost to Swiatek this summer, Anisimova responded with a break of her own. With the pressure of whether she might be shutout again gone, Anisimova settled into a consistent, level-headed match in which her power shots shifted the pressure onto the shoulders of Swiatek, especially on the #2 seed's serve.

Both saved BPs -- Anisimova two in game 5, Swiatek one in game 8 -- to keep things on serve late in the opening set. After avoiding squandering a 40/15 lead in a game that went to deuce, Anisimova held for 5-4, then saw a pair of SP/BP on Swiatek's serve a game later. Swiatek's forehand error on the second handed the match lead to the #8-seeded Anisimova via a 6-4 set win.

Swiatek grabbed an early 2-0 lead in the 2nd, but Anisimova rebounded yet again, breaking back in game 4 to level the score. With Anisimova holding a 4-3 edge, Swiatek blinked again, DF'ing on BP to put the match on the Bannerette's racket.

Serving at 5-3, with Swiatek now struggling to keep up, Anisimova went up 40/love. After a DF on her second MP chance, an Anisimova shot on MP #3 bounced off the net cord and landed short enough that a charging Swiatek couldn't scramble quickly enough to reach it, ending the 6-4/6-3 match in straight sets and sending the 23-year old Anisimova into her third career major SF, second in a row, and first ever at the U.S. Open.



And thus ends this summer of Swiatek, which included a maiden grass final, first Wimbledon title, Cincinnati win and a fifth straight major QF result. Swiatek's loss means that the four majors will be split up between four different women in 2025. And while Swiatek's exit here cedes any claim to the Player of the Year race lead to Aryna Sabalenka heading into the 4Q -- no matter whether or not the reigning champ can defend her U.S. title (but especially if she can) -- what has happened over the past two months, after what had been a sometimes-troubling clay court spring for the Pole, the usual feeling of "existential crisis" that has so often accompanied losses by Swiatek in '25 shouldn't linger in the air with this particular defeat, at least.

"Toby Kidd" didn't suddenly appear again on Day 11, Swiatek was just beaten by a someone who outplayed her.

...in the night session, another well-played match that managed to finish up in straight sets revealed the final semifinalist of this U.S. Open, and it feels like we've come this way before.



As expected, #11 Karolina Muchova was somewhat worn down after four straight three-set victories over the past week and a half, but she still put up a good accounting against an in-form (w/ power *and* defense) #23-seeded Naomi Osaka, who improved to 5-0 in her slam QF career and reached her third U.S. Open semifinal.

The two played consecutive even sets on Ashe, with the 1st not seeing a break of serve until Osaka finally grabbed a decisive edge in game 10. With Osaka leading 5-4, Muchova fell behind love/40 on serve and saw Osaka grab the set on her second SP.

In the 2nd, after Muchova returned from a medical timeout with her left thigh wrapped (which seemed to slow her movement in the early stages of the set), the two broke serve in the first two games, but then settled into another extended stretch of held games. Tied up at 4-4, Muchova carved out a BP and Osaka pushed a down the line backhand wide to give the Czech the chance to serve out the set. But Muchova again fell into a love/40 hole, as Osaka's power shots controlled the game and broke to keep the 2nd alive.



Osaka held in game 11, a three-deuce affair in which she saved two SP, and things went to a TB after a Muchova love game. Again, with the set on the line, Osaka assumed the lead, winning 7-3 to finish off a 6-4/7-6(3) victory to reach her first SF in New York since she won the 2020 title.



...the women's doubles finalists were determined on Wednesday, as #1 seeds Katerina Siniakova & Taylor Townsend defeated #4 V.Kudermetova/Mertens, improving to 27-4 as a duo this season. They're playing for their third major title together, which would give them 3/4 of a Career Slam after wins at the AO (2025) and Wimbledon (2024).

Siniakova, of course, has *already* won a Career Slam with Barbora Krejcikova, and no one has ever done it with two *different* partners. The Czech has eleven career slam wins (10 WD, 1 MX); while Townsend will be looking to win her first U.S. crown, after losing in the final two years ago (w/ Caty McNally) to, naturally, Krejcikova/Siniakova.



They'll face #3 Gaby Dabrowski & Erin Routliffe, the '23 U.S. champs, who defeated #2-seeded Errani/Paolini in today's other semi. Dabrowski & Routliffe won in Cincinnati just a few weeks ago.



...in juniors, the QF are set, as the last remaining Bannerettes and Crushers were sent out in the 3rd Round. The U.S.'s Julieta Pareja (#1 seed) was upset by Swedish qualifier Lea Nilsson, and #3 Kristina Penickova fell to #14-seeded Waffle Jeline Vandromme, who has now won 20 straight matches (17 in pro events w/ three title runs, and 3 more this week).



#6-seeded Czech Jana Kovackova lost to #9 Mika Stojsavljevic, the '24 U.S. junior champ. The 16-year old Brit is attempting to become the first back-to-back girls' champ in New York.

There are seven nations represented in the QF, with Great Britain the only one with two players alive in the draw, as Stojsavljevic is joined by #2-seed Hannah Klugman.

...in wheelchair action, the Yui Kamiji/Diede de Groot QF match-up will happen, as both won today. Unseeded de Groot, the six-time defending champ, won 3 & love over Lucy Shuker, while Kamiji rallied after losing the 1st set to Lizzy de Greef to win win 5-7/6-2/6-1.

Another QF match-up to watch will be 19-year old Pasty Ksenia Chasteau vs. #2 Aniek Van Koot. Chasteau upset Van Koot at Wimbledon this year, as well as reaching her first slam final in doubles at SW19. Chasteau won the U.S. Open junior wheelchair title in 2023.

With Dana Mathewson, usually the only U.S. woman in a wheelchair slam draw, now retired, 18-year old wild card Maylee Phelps filled that role at this Open, making her major debut with a 1st Round loss to Zhu Zhenzhen. Phelps reached the '23 U.S. girls' final two years ago vs. Chasteau.

...in the opening round of the junior wheelchair competition, #1-seeded Vitoria Miranda of Brazil, the AO & RG singles winner this year, was upset by Japan's Seira Matsuoka. In the semis, Matsuoka will face the U.S.'s Sabina Czauz, the runner-up to Miranda in the AO/RG finals this year.

Last yar, Miranda lost in the final to another Japanese girl, Yuna Takamuro.






*WOMEN'S SINGLES SF*
#1 Aryna Sabalenka/BLR vs. #4 Jessie Pegula/USA
#23 Naomi Osaka/JPN vs. #8 Amanda Anisimova/USA

*WOMEN'S DOUBLES FINAL*
#1 Siniakova/Townsend (CZE/USA) vs. #3 Dabrowski/Routliffe (CAN/NZL)

*MIXED DOUBLES FINAL*
(WC) Errani/Vavassori (ITA/ITA) def. #3 Swiatek/Ruud (POL/NOR) 6-3/5-7 [10-6]

*GIRLS SINGLES QF*
(Q) Lea Nilsson/SWE vs. #8 Charo Esquiva Banuls/ESP
#4 Mia Pohankova/SVK vs. #9 Mika Stojsavljevic/GBR
Ksenia Efremova/FRA vs. #14 Jeline Vandromme/BEL
#5 Julia Stusek/GER vs. #2 Hannah Klugman/GBR

*WHEELCHAIR SINGLES QF*
#1 Yui Kamiji/JPN vs. Diede de Groot/NED
#4 Wang Ziying/CHN vs. Angelica Bernal/COL
Zhu Zhenzhen/CHN vs. #3 Li Xiaohui/CHN
Ksenia Chasteau/FRA vs. #2 Aniek Van Koot/NED

*WHEELCHAIR DOUBLES SF*
de Groot/Zhu (NED/CHN) vs. Kamiji/Montjane (JPN/RSA)
Griffioen/Shuker (NED/GBR) vs. #2 Li/Wang (CHN/CHN)

*WHEELCHAIR JUNIOR SINGLES SF*
Seira Matsuoka/JPN vs. Sabina Czauz/USA
Emma Gjerseth/SWE vs. #2 Luna Gryp/BEL







...HMMM... ON DAY 11:


While Aryna Sabalenka *could* still be the fourth different woman to win a major title this season, the winner of this U.S. Open still might *not* be her, as well. But she'll still be ranked #1 come Monday.

So, when was the last time four women won majors in a single season and a *fifth* was the season-ending #1? That'd be 2017, when the slam champs were, in order, S.Williams-Ostapenko-Muguruza-Stephens but Simona Halep was the #1-ranked player for the season.

In 2020, when only three of the majors were played (Wimbledon was cancelled), the winners were Kenin (AO), Osaka (US) and Swiatek (RG), with Ash Barty (who stayed in Australia through the shutdown, playing just 14 matches on the year, and didn't return until 2021) was the world #1 due to the rankings being frozen for much of the year (and other changes in the rankings that tried to make up for all the cancelled portions of the schedule).


...THE UPDATE WE DIDN'T KNOW WE WANTED (and probably still don't, really, but we're going to get it anyway)... ON DAY 11:




"South Park," BTW, did a full-on takedown of the Labubu craze in tonight's episode, which I thought was some pretty expert timing.




...ESPN IS USING A NEW VERSION OF "NEW YORK GROOVE" AT THIS OPEN... ON DAY 11:




No. And I repeat, no. If you're going to use the song, use a proper version of it rather than that washed-out jumble just so that you can tout that it's by a "2x Grammy nominee."























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*MOST WTA SF in 2025*
10 - ARYNA SABALENKA (7-2)
8 - Iga Swiatek (3-5)
6 - JESSIE PEGULA (5-0)
6 - Ekaterina Alexandrova (2-4)
6 - Elena Rybakina (1-5)
5 - AMANDA ANISIMOVA (3-1)
5 - Jasmine Paolini (2-3)

*WTA SLAM QF & W/L in 2020s*
14 - SABALENKA (12-1+W)
13 - SWIATEK (9-4)
9 - Gauff (5-4)
8 - PEGULA (2-6)
7 - Jabeur (3-4)
7 - Svitolina (1-6)
6 - MUCHOVA (4-2)
6 - Rybakina (3-3)
6 - KREJCIKOVA (2-4)
5 - Keys (3-2)
5 - Pavlyuchenkova (1-4)
4 - Barty (3-1)
4 - Ka.Pliskova (1-3)
4 - VONDROUSOVA (1-2+L)
4 - Zheng Q. (1-3)
3 - OSAKA (3-0)
3 - ANISIMOVA (2-1)
3 - Halep (2-1)
3 - M.Andreeva (1-2)
3 - Badosa (1-2)
3 - Navarro (1-2)
3 - Ostapenko (0-3)
3 - Tomljanovic (0-3)

[WTA slam QF W/L by nation in 2020s]
38 - USA (20-18)**
24 - CZE (9-14+L)***
16 - BLR (14-1+W)*
14 - POL (10-4)*
12 - RUS (3-9)
9 - UKR (2-7)

**RECENT U.S. OPEN "BROADWAY-BOUND" WINNERS**
2019 "Call Me Coco" summer preview shows
2020 "Three Moms & the Quarterfinals" (Serena, Vika and Pironkova)
2021 "Oh Canada!" (Fernandez, Andreescu, Dabrowski... +Auger-Aliassime men's SF)
2022 "Danielle After Dark" (Collins)
2023 "Jabeurwocky" (Jabeur)
2024 "In the Heat of the Night" (Zheng Q./Vekic 2:16 a.m. finish)
2025 "Naomi Osaka presents 'Labubus Take New York'"

*CAREER SLAM SF - active*
23 - Venus Williams, USA (16-7)
13 - Aryna Sabalenka, BLR (6-6)*
9 - Victoria Azarenka, BLR (6-3)
9 - Iga Swiatek, POL (6-3)
7 - Madison Keys, USA (2-5)
7 - Petra Kvitova, CZE (3-4)
7 - Caroline Wozniacki, DEN (3-4)
5 - Naomi Osaka, JPN (4-0)*
5 - Coco Gauff, USA (3-2)
4 - Karolina Pliskova, CZE (2-2)
4 - Karolina Muchova, CZE (1-3)
3 - Sara Errani, ITA (1-2)
3 - Ons Jabeur, TUN (3-0)
3 - Elena Rybakina, KAZ (2-1)
3 - Sloane Stephens, USA (2-1)
3 - Amanda Anisimova, USA (1-1)*
3 - Elina Svitolina, UKR (0-3)
--
*-to play SF

[SLAM SF 2020-25]
13 - Aryna Sabalenka, BLR (6-6)*
9 - Iga Swiatek, POL (6-3)
5 - Coco Gauff, USA (3-2)
4 - Karolina Muchova, CZE (1-3)
3 - Ash Barty, AUS (2-1)
3 - Ons Jabeur, TUN (3-0)
3 - Madison Keys, USA (1-2)
3 - Elena Rybakina, KAZ (2-1)
3 - Naomi Osaka, JPN (2-0)*
2 - Amanda Anisimova, USA (1-0)*
2 - Jessie Pegula, USA (1-0)*
2 - Victoria Azarenka, BLR (1-1)
2 - Jennifer Brady, USA (1-1)
2 - Simona Halep, ROU (0-2)
2 - Sofia Kenin, USA (2-0)
2 - Barbora Krejcikova, CZE (2-0)
2 - Jasmine Paolini, ITA (2-0)
2 - Maria Sakkari, GRE (0-2)
2 - Serena Williams, USA (0-2)
1 - Mirra Andreeva, RUS (0-1)
1 - Paula Badosa, ESP (0-1)
1 - Danielle Collins, USA (1-0)
1 - Leylah Fernandez, CAN (1-0)
1 - Caroline Garcia, FRA (0-1)
1 - Beatriz Haddad Maia, BRA (0-1)
1 - Dasha Kasatkina, RUS (0-1)
1 - Angelique Kerber, GER (0-1)
1 - Petra Kvitova, CZE (0-1)
1 - Magda Linette, POL (0-1)
1 - Tatjana Maria, GER (0-1)
1 - Garbina Muguruza, ESP (1-0)
1 - Emma Navarro, USA (0-1)
1 - Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, RUS (1-0)
1 - Karolina Pliskova, CZE (1-0)
1 - Nadia Podoroska, ARG (0-1)
1 - Emma Raducanu, GBR (1-0)
1 - Belinda Bencic, SUI (0-1)
1 - Lois Boisson, FRA (0-1)
1 - Elina Svitolina, UKR (0-1)
1 - Martina Trevisan, ITA (0-1)
1 - Donna Vekic, CRO (0-1)
1 - Marketa Vondrousova, CZE (1-0)
1 - Dayana Yastremska, UKR (0-1)
1 - Zheng Qinwen, CHN (1-0)
1 - Tamara Zidansek, SLO (0-1)
--
*-to play SF

[2025 SLAM SF BY NATION]
5 - USA (3-0)**
4 - BLR (2-1)*
3 - POL (1-2)
1 - ESP (0-1)
1 - FRA (0-1)
1 - JPN (0-0)*
1 - SUI (0-1)

[SLAM SF BY NATION 2020-25 / 23 events]
20 - USA (10-8)**
15 - BLR (7-7)*
10 - POL (6-4)
9 - CZE (5-4)
3 - JPN (2-0)*
3 - AUS (2-1)
3 - KAZ (2-1)
3 - RUS (1-2)
3 - TUN (3-0)
2 - ESP (1-1)
2 - FRA (0-2)
2 - GER (0-2)
2 - GRE (0-2)
2 - ITA (2-0)
2 - ROU (0-2)
2 - UKR (0-2)
1 (W) - CAN,CHN,GBR
1 (L) - ARG,BRA,CRO,SLO,SUI,ITA

[2025 US SEMIFINALISTS - career US SF]
5 - Aryna Sabalenka
3 - Naomi Osaka
2 - Amanda Anisimova
2 - Jessie Pegula

[2025 US SEMIFINALISTS - consecutive US SF]
5 - Aryna Sabalenka
2 - Jessie Pegula

[2025 US SEMIFINALISTS - consecutive Slam SF]
5 - Aryna Sabalenka (7 con HC slams)
2 - Amanda Anisimova

[2025 US SEMIFINALISTS - career US W/L]
32-6...Sabalenka
28-6...Osaka
23-8...Pegula
8-5...Anisimova

[2025 US SEMIFINALISTS - career Slam W/L]
98-26...Sabalenka
69-25...Osaka
57-26...Pegula
43-22...Anisimova

[2025 US SEMIFINALISTS - 2025 Slam W/L]
21-3...Sabalenka
15-3...Anisimova
10-3...Pegula
9-3...Osaka

[2025 US SEMIFINALISTS - 2025 season W/L]
54-10...Sabalenka
42-16...Pegula
38-15...Anisimova
32-12...Osaka

[2025 US SEMIFINALISTS - 2025 hard court W/L]
30-5...Sabalenka (7-1 summer)
27-9...Pegula (7-3 summer)
21-6...Osaka (12-2 summer)
18-7...Anisimova (7-2 summer)






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[image or embed]

— Dan Waterfield (@danwaterfield.bsky.social) September 2, 2025 at 6:37 AM









TOP QUALIFIER: Janice Tjen, INA
TOP EARLY-ROUND (1r-2r): Emma Raducanu/GBR
TOP MIDDLE-ROUND (3r-QF): #23 Naomi Osaka/JPN
TOP LATE-ROUND (SF-F): x
TOP QUALIFYING MATCH: Q2: Dominika Salkova/CZE def. Kristina Dmitruk/BLR 6-3/5-7/7-6(10-8) - saved 4 MP on serve at 6-5 in the 3rd, then trailed 4-1 in MTB
TOP EARLY-RD. MATCH (1r-2r): 1st Rd. - Alex Eala/PHI def. #14 Clara Tauson/DEN 6-3/2-6/7-6(13-11) - comeback from 5-1 down in 3rd; first PHI w/ GS MD win
TOP MIDDLE-RD. MATCH (3r-QF): 4th Rd. - Barbora Krejcikova/CZE def. Taylor Townsend/USA 1-6/7-6(13)/6-3 - saves 8 MP
TOP LATE-RD. MATCH (SF-F): x
=============================
FIRST VICTORY: Polina Kudermetova/RUS (def. Parrizas Diaz/ESP, ret. after 2-2 in 1st set)
FIRST SEED OUT: #24 Veronika Kudermetova/RUS (1r, lost to qualifier Tjen/INA)
FIRST CAREER SLAM MD WINS: Alex Eala/PHI (3rd GS MD), Polina Kudermetova/RUS (5th MD) and Janice Tjen/INA (1st MD)
PROTECTED RANKING MD WINS: Sorana Cirstea/ROU (2nd Rd.)
LUCKY LOSER MD WINS: no LL in MD
UPSET QUEENS: Asia (seeded upsets by Tjen/INA, Eala/PHI; Uchijima saved 7 MP vs. Danilovic)
REVELATION LADIES: Russia (10-3 1r; first slam MD W by P.Kudermetova, and first US wins by Blinkova and Zakharova)
NATION OF POOR SOULS: China (1-5 1st Rd.; 0-5 start; Zheng Qinwen DNP)
CRASH & BURN: #6 Madison Keys/USA (AO champ loses 1r to Zarazua; second US 1r exit in 12 years)
ZOMBIE QUEEN OF NEW YORK: Moyuka Uchijima/JPN (1r- saved 7 MP, down triple MP twice vs. Danilovic)
IT ("?"): x
Ms.OPPORTUNITY: Nominee: Pegula, Anisimova
LAST QUALIFIER STANDING: Priscilla Hon/AUS (3rd Rd.)
LAST WILD CARD STANDING: Caty McNally/USA (2nd Rd.)
LAST BANNERETTE STANDING: in SF: Anisimova, Pegula
COMEBACK: Naomi Osaka/JPN
VETERAN PLAYER (KIMIKO CUP): Barbora Krejcikova/CZE
DOUBLES STAR: Nominees: Siniakova/Townsend, Dabrowski/Routliffe
BIG APPLE BANNERETTE BREAKTHROUGH: Taylor Townsend/USA
BROADWAY-BOUND: "Naomi Osaka presents 'Labubus Take New York'"
LADY OF THE EVENING: Nominee: Sharapova (HoF ring - "Exquisitely Back in the City")
JUNIOR BREAKOUT: x







All for Day 11. More tomorrow.

posted by Todd.Spiker @ 1:30 AM 

2 Comments:

Blogger khan35 said...

Every time Osaka had reached QFs at a slam, she ended up winning that slam. It's a bizarre record. Anisimova might stop that streak.

Thu Sep 04, 03:44:00 AM EDT  
Blogger Todd.Spiker said...

Ding-ding-ding!

Before the match, ESPN showed IBM's Watson saying Anisimova had a 77% chance of winning the match... it seemed like a crazy number, until it wasn't.

Fri Sep 05, 04:51:00 AM EDT  

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