“Who would have thought that we would be meeting again so soon?”
These were Amanda Anisimova’s words when told she would be facing Iga Swiatek in the US Open quarterfinals, just seven weeks after Swiatek dismantled her 6-0 6-0 in an historically one-sided Wimbledon final.
Rather than feel trepidation approaching the rematch, Anisimova radiated positivity, further proof of how far she has come in the weeks following that sobering defeat, and in her career arc overall.
Before we even consider her quarterfinal opponent, Anisimova deserves credit for progressing to this point. It’s by far her best US Open result – she had won only three main-draw matches at Flushing Meadows prior to 2025 – and it’s a result achieved at the venue where she most wants to succeed.
“It's super special,” said Anisimova, who crushed Beatriz Haddad Maia 6-0 6-3 in the fourth round on Monday night at Arthur Ashe Stadium.
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“Going into this [tournament] I truly was taking it one match at a time. Like, never really made it this far at the US Open, so it really means a lot.
“I know how hard it is to play at this Slam, just because it's the city, and I feel like there's a lot going on. Also being a home Slam, it puts a little bit more pressure on the American players, I think.
“But I really just tried to embrace it, I think, since the first day that I got here.”
Anisimova has already produced the best Grand Slam season of her career. Her Wimbledon final and US Open quarterfinal followed a fourth-round finish at Roland Garros, helping her build a 14-3 record at the majors this year, exceeding the 10 wins she managed at this level in 2022.
Perhaps even more impressively, she has won six of eight matches following that Wimbledon final defeat – a result observers worried could derail her.
“Bouncing back from that actually was a little bit difficult, because that never happened to me before,” said Anisimova, the world No.9. “But I've worked through it, and the hardcourt season started off strong for me. I feel like I have moved on from that at this point.
“[The Wimbledon final] wasn't a good performance by any means. I feel like maybe I learned some things from it and some things I can do differently, but above all, I think it was just a learning experience.”
One lesson Anisimova took away from her Wimbledon campaign was the need to improve her serve. At the US Open, her delivery has been far more effective.
After her second-round win over Maya Joint, Anisimova discussed the fact she had prioritised working on her serve at the beginning of the hardcourt season, made some technical adjustments, and felt she was struggling with it less than she was at the All England Club.
The per-match average numbers reflect that.
*Comparing averages per match from her six wins at Wimbledon and four wins at US Open
Against Haddad Maia, when she led by a set and a break, you could see how much more potent her serve had become. She stepped up to the line and produced two aces and an unreturnable serve en route to hold for 5-3.
Those aces contributed to 27 total winners – against just 14 unforced errors – against the Brazilian, an exceptionally clean performance she’ll hope to replicate against the red-hot Swiatek.
The world No.2 won the Cincinnati title prior to the US Open and will line up against Anisimova on Wednesday afternoon having won 18 of her past 19 matches.
“I'm really excited and looking forward to it. At this stage of the game you're going to play a really tough opponent regardless,” Anisimova said.
“So to be able to have a rematch or to be able to face her again and give myself another chance, I'm really, really happy about that.
“I feel like it's going to be a really tough challenge, but I feel like I've been playing well. I'm just looking forward to it.
“I hope I can put on a good performance.”