Aryna Sabalenka ousts Amanda Anisimova to repeat as U.S. Open champ

Top-seeded Aryna Sabalenka overcame some second-set stumbles to win the match-ending tiebreaker and repeat as U.S. Open champion with a 6-3, 7-6 (3) victory over eighth-seeded Amanda Anisimova on Saturday in New York.

The major victory is the fourth of Sabalenka's career. She is the first woman to repeat as U.S. Open champion since Serena Williams won three straight from 2012-14.

Sabalenka converted 5 of 6 break points and had 13 winners against 15 unforced errors.

Sabalenka of Belarus also has two Australian Open titles on the ledger.

Anisimova was playing in her second career major final, both coming this year. She lost 6-0, 6-0 to Iga Swiatek at Wimbledon.

Anisimova had 22 winners and 29 unforced errors.

The tiebreaker was tied at 1-1 before Sabalenka won the next five points. A double fault by Anisimova gave Sabalenka a 4-1 advantage and the American next hit Sabalenka's serve into the net.

Sabalenka followed with a forehand winner for a 6-1 lead before eventually closing it out on her third match point.

Anisimova won three straight games in the opening set to take a 3-2 lead before Sabalenka won the final four games of the set.

The second set was tied at 3 before Sabalenka won two straight games to move close to the finish line. Anisimova held her serve in the next game to move within 5-4.

In the ensuing game, Sabalenka was two points away from winning when she had an open-court slam opportunity that she hit into the net.

Anisimova took the gift and won the next point to tie the set at 5. She then won the following game to take a 6-5 lead before Sabalenka rallied to force a tiebreaker.

--Field Level Media