Anisimova Shocks Swiatek! Osaka Ousts Muchova

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Last updated on: September 04, 2025 08:13 IST

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Six weeks ago Amanda Anisimova couldn't win a single game against Iga Swiatek in the Wimbledon final.
On Wednesday the American beat the Polish second seed in straight sets.

Amanda Anisimova

IMAGE: Amanda Anisimova reached her third major semi-final and first at Flushing Meadows with an upset victory over second seed Iga Swiatek on Wednesday, September 3, 2025. Photograph: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images/Reuters

Amanda Anisimova gained a measure of revenge at the US Open, knocking out Iga Swiatek 6-4, 6-3 in the quarter-finals at the Arthur Ashe Stadium on Wednesday.

In a rematch of July's Wimbledon final, in which she was thrashed 6-0, 6-0, the eighth seeded American proved too good for the Polish second seed to reach her first US Open semi-final after an hour 36 minutes.

She will meet four-times major winner Naomi Osaka, who beat injury-hampered Czech 11th seed Karolina Muchova 6-4, 7-6(3).

 

Cheered on by local fans Anisimova fired on all cylinders to shock the six-times major winner, who was billed a strong contender for the title.

Anisimova served first and was broken immediately, as she lost three straight points. However, she broke back immediately and gained ascendancy with strong and flat groundstrokes that contributed to 23 total winners, 10 more than Swiatek.

She was under pressure in the fifth game, two break points down at 15-40, but held for a 3-2 lead.

The American got the breakthrough in the 10th game when Swiatek's serve left her in trouble at 15-40 down. Anisimova had two set points. Swiatek saved the first but then sent a wild forehand long to the back of the court to give Anisimova a one-set lead.

In the second set, Anisimova fell behind again, 0-2, but did well to come back.

When Swiatek double-faulted to trail 3-5, all Anisimova had to do was serve well, which she did to register an impressive victory.

"To come back from Wimbledon like that is really special to me," said Anisimova, who sealed victory after a net cord bounced in her favour on match-point.

"I feel like I worked so hard to turn it around after that. I knew I was going to have to dig really deep. It was such a tough match; truly a battle for me."

Osaka Stops Muchova

Naomi Osaka

IMAGE: Naomi Osaka eliminated Karolina Muchova to return to the semi-finals at the US Open for the first time since winning the title five years ago. Photograph: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images/Reuters

In the second women's quarter-final of the day, Osaka improved to 5-0 in Grand Slam quarter-final appearances with an impressive performance. Though Muchova was resticted by a leg injury, Osaka was in absolute control of her game.

The first set was an even contest with both players showing quality and holding serve till Osaka broke in the tenth game to win the set.

Muchova then got her first break immediately into the second set, but Osaka broke right back. Suddenly, there were straight breaks of serve after nine service games with no breaks.

Games then went with serve till Osaka fluffed a backhand down the line, giving the 11th seeded Czech the break she needed to go up 5-4 and serve for the set.

Just when it looked like the match was headling for a third set Osaka broke back at love to level the scores 5-5.

Osaka then survived a couple of break points to hold in 11th game before Muchova, who needed a medical time-out late in the first set, served out the 12th game to take the set into the tie-break.

It was Osaka all the way in the tie-breaker as she raced to a 3-1 and 6-2 lead before sealing victory at 7-3.

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