Arthur Ashe Stadium was buzzing, not just because of Amanda Anisimova’s play. The American walked onto the court with one defeat too many on her mind. Two months ago, Iga Świątek handed her a brutal loss at Wimbledon — a double bagel, the kind of score you don’t forget.
But Wednesday night at the US Open, Anisimova spectacularly turned the tables. How did a player written off by many walk off with her first US Open semifinal ticket? One thing was clear: everyone wanted to know what had happened and what would come next.
How Did Amanda Anisimova Leave Iga Świątek Stunned at the US Open?
Tennis loves a comeback story, and Anisimova’s rise has set the sport on fire. Coming in as the underdog after her tough Wimbledon loss to Świątek on July 12, Anisimova looked calm, confident, and ready to prove a point on her home turf. The American did just that, beating the second seed in straight sets and sealing her place in the semifinals for the first time at Flushing Meadows.
Even though Anisimova lost her opening service game, she settled down quickly. She broke back and started controlling points with heavy, flat groundstrokes. Her 23 winners — 10 more than Świątek — and just 12 unforced errors swung the first set her way, 6-4.
The second set looked like it might follow the same script, with Anisimova falling behind 0-2. But, with the New York crowd behind her, she wrestled back control while Świątek grew visibly frustrated. When Świątek double-faulted at 3-5, Anisimova simply held her nerve, closed the set 6-3, and sent the home crowd into a frenzy.
AMERICAN AMANDA ANISIMOVA DEFEATS IGA SWIATEK AT THE US OPEN 👏 pic.twitter.com/18liDlG89L
— ESPN (@espn) September 3, 2025
Fans were on their feet as Anisimova pulled off her sensational turnaround. Among those swept up in the excitement was Brad Gilbert, Coco Gauff’s former coach. Gilbert’s reaction on social media said it all.
“What turnaround from @Wimbledon from AA,” he wrote.
what turnaround from @Wimbledon from AA
— Brad Gilbert (@bgtennisnation) September 3, 2025
He kept the energy going, pointing out how wild tennis can be.
“How unpredictable tennis :tennis: can be, exactly, why we lace up,” he shared.
How unpredictable tennis 🎾 can be, exactly 👍 why we lace up ⬆️ the sneakers 👟
— Brad Gilbert (@bgtennisnation) September 3, 2025
Gilbert also brought up a quirky stat: Anisimova could become just the third player with the initials “AA” to win the US Open, joining the likes of Andre Agassi and Arthur Ashe.
“Tremendous effort from AA taking out Iga Pop to make her 1st @usopen semis. Looking be the 3rd AA to win the open,” he commented.
Tremendous effort from AA taking out Iga Pop to make her 1st @usopen semis. Looking be the 3rd AA to win the open
— Brad Gilbert (@bgtennisnation) September 3, 2025
Adding to the list of Anisimova’s milestones: after also taking down world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka at Wimbledon, she became the first American woman since Serena Williams in 2012 to beat a WTA Top-2 player in back-to-back majors.
What Did Świątek Say About Anisimova After US Open Heartbreak?
The tennis world isn’t just talking about the result — Świątek herself had high praise for Anisimova’s resilience. The former champion gave credit where it was due, saying everyone knows how talented Anisimova is and that her loss at Wimbledon didn’t define her game.
“I think everybody knows how Amanda can play. Yeah, she didn’t play well in Wimbledon, but it’s not like she’s always going to do the same mistakes or feel the same. I know that she’s a good player. She can play great tennis. So for me, I was ready for a tough match,” Swiatek said after the match.
Anisimova is also the youngest woman since 23-year-old Simona Halep in 2015 to reach a Grand Slam semifinal on every surface: hard, clay, and grass.
