Pegula Seeks Revenge Against Sabalenka as Osaka Meets Anisimova

Posted : 04 September 2025

Revenge will be on Jessica Pegula’s mind when she meets Aryna Sabalenka in the US Open semifinals on Thursday, a rematch of last year’s final at Flushing Meadows. In the other semifinal, Naomi Osaka continues her comeback as she faces fellow American Amanda Anisimova.

World No. 1 Sabalenka advanced without hitting a ball after Marketa Vondrousova withdrew through injury. The Belarusian is chasing her sixth consecutive hardcourt Grand Slam final, having reached the last four at every major this season. However, she is still searching for her first title of the year after falling short in the finals of the Australian Open and Roland Garros, and suffering a semifinal loss at Wimbledon to Anisimova.

Pegula heads into the contest in top form. Her straight-sets victory over Barbora Krejcikova marked her second straight US Open semifinal run without dropping a set, a feat last achieved by Serena Williams between 2011 and 2014. Although she has yet to face a top-50 opponent in this year’s tournament, the Buffalo native now faces her biggest challenge against Sabalenka, who beat her in last year’s title match.

“I think it would be cool to get revenge, obviously,” Pegula said. “Last year I walked off court thinking about everything I could have done better, but now I see how incredible that run was. Playing the best player in the world is exciting.”

Sabalenka holds a dominant 7–2 record in their head-to-head and has won their last three meetings on North American hard courts.

On the other side of the draw, Anisimova has already enjoyed a moment of redemption by defeating world No. 2 Iga Swiatek in straight sets on Wednesday, just months after a humiliating 6-0 6-0 defeat to the Pole in the Wimbledon final. Roared on by the New York crowd, the 24-year-old is back in form after a mental health break last year.

“To lose 6-0 6-0 in a Grand Slam final was a lot to handle,” Anisimova admitted. “I’m just really proud of myself for bouncing back. I proved to myself that with the right mindset, positive results follow.”

Standing between her and a second consecutive major final is Osaka. The Japanese star, a four-time Grand Slam champion, is enjoying her best run since 2021, reaching the semifinals with a gritty win over Karolina Muchova.

“I’m just really grateful to be here,” Osaka said. “Last year I was sitting in the stands, hoping I’d get another chance to play on this court. Now my dream is coming true.”

Osaka has already produced flashes of her championship-winning form, including a fourth-round victory over third seed Coco Gauff. However, she faces a difficult task against Anisimova, who leads their head-to-head 2–0 after victories at the 2022 Australian Open and Roland Garros.

Pegula Seeks Revenge Against Sabalenka as Osaka Meets Anisimova

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