US Open: Amanda Anisimova emulates Williams sisters to set up Aryna Sabalenka final rematch

Wimbledon semi-final foes Aryna Sabalenka and Amanda Anisimova will reunite in a tantalising US Open final following respective semi-final victories over Jessica Pegula and Naomi Osaka on Thursday.

Defending champion Sabalenka and SW19 runner-up Anisimova both fought back from a set down to reach the Flushing Meadows showpiece, as the former battled past home favourite Pegula 4-6 6-3 6-4 in just over two hours.

Meanwhile, Anisimova also had to do it the hard way against the rejuvenated Osaka, whom she bested 6-7[4] 7-6[3] 6-3 to reach back-to-back Grand Slam finals in 2025.

Holder Sabalenka failed to cling onto a 4-2 advantage in the opening set, where Pegula won four games on the spin to turn the tide and take a 1-0 lead in the semi-final, but the world number one suffered no similar collapse after going 3-0 up in the second.

A break in the first game of the third set eventually proved pivotal too, and even though Sabalenka squandered two match points - including one on a seemingly simple forehand volley - she made no such mistake on her third clincher.

The Belarusian is now just the third woman to reach consecutive Australian Open and US Open finals three years running, following in the footsteps of Steffi Graf (1988-90) and Martina Hingis (1997-99).

US Open: Anisimova emulates Williams sisters with Osaka semi-final win

Standing in Sabalenka's way of a second successive Flushing Meadows title - and first major of 2025 - is American eighth seed Anisimova, who ended Osaka's New York dream in a marathon match at Arthur Ashe Stadium.

With nearly three hours on the board, Anisimova sealed an enthralling three-set win that saw her emulate tennis royalty at the age of 23 years and 358 days.

The Wimbledon runner-up is now the youngest woman to reach the singles finals at both Wimbledon and the US Open in the same year since Serena Williams and Venus Williams in 2002, as she survived some ferocious serving from her Japanese opponent in her semi-final.

Osaka fired 15 aces beyond Anisimova, who returned seven of her own while hitting six double faults, and the latter also made up for 45 unforced errors with 46 winners on the day.

Also advancing on match point number three, Anisimova bids for her maiden major honour in Saturday's final, while Sabalenka is seeking a fourth Grand Slam crown on hard courts.

Sabalenka-Anisimova head-to-head before US Open final

Frequent opponents since their inaugural meeting at the Australian Open in 2019, Sabalenka and Anisimova will be clashing at the highest level for the 10th time when they square off with US Open glory on the line.

The American has the edge over the Belarusian with six wins to three, including a three-set Wimbledon semi-final success this year before her 0-6 0-6 humiliation vs. Iga Swiatek, whom she has since taken revenge on.

Anisimova also prevailed in their most recent battle on hard courts - a 6-4 6-2 victory in the 2024 Toronto quarter-finals - although Sabalenka did triumph at that year's Australian Open, dropping just five games along the way.

However, the world number one's other two victories in this head-to-head have both come on clay, firstly in Rome in 2022 before a 7-5 6-3 win in this year's French Open last 16.