NEW YORK: Amanda Anisimova flipped the script on Wednesday by ousting second seed Iga Swiatek 6-4, 6-3 to reach her first US Open semi-final, exacting revenge for one of the most brutal defeats in Grand Slam history.

Less than two months after suffering a devastating 6-0, 6-0 loss to the world number two in the Wimbledon final, the American eighth seed completed the turnaround in 96 minutes on Arthur Ashe Stadium.

“Playing here is so freaking special,” Anisimova said in her on-court interview. “I’ve been having the run of my life here ... Today proved everything for me. I can do it.”

The 24-year-old’s journey from tears in July to triumph on Wednesday epitomizes the sport’s capacity for redemption.

After watching back the painful Wimbledon footage on Tuesday night, Anisimova admitted she was “slow as hell” in that final but approached the rematch with renewed purpose.

“Today is definitely the most meaningful victory I’ve had in my life,” she told reporters. “I really came out there with, like, not an ounce of fear... I was constantly moving and trying to get myself going.”

Anisimova next faces Naomi Osaka in the semi-finals after the Japanese 23rd seed beat Karolina Muchova 6-4, 7-6 (7/3).

Swiatek acknowledged that her opponent’s aggressive return game proved decisive.

“I couldn’t win today’s match playing like that, serving like that, and with Amanda being so aggressive on the returns,” the six-time Grand Slam champion told reporters.

The American dominated on return, converting four of nine break opportunities while Swiatek managed two breaks from just four chances, ending her bid for a seventh Grand Slam title and second US Open crown in the quarter-finals.

Osaka beat Czech 11th seed Muchova to extend her deepest run at a Grand Slam since returning to tennis after the birth of her daughter in 2023.

The Japanese star hit 30 winners in a smooth performance reminiscent of the player who lifted the trophy here in 2018 and 2020.

“It’s been a while since I’ve been in this position,” said Osaka, who has gone on to win the tournament every time she has reached the last four of a major. “You play the best players in the world towards the end of a Slam. We’re all hoping to achieve the same thing. It’s kind of like boxing, but with a tennis ball.”

However, she has lost both previous matches with Anisimova — at the Australian Open and Roland Garros in 2022.

SINNER POWERS INTO SEMIS

In the men’s quarters, 25th seed Felix Auger-Aliassime edged eighth seed Alex de Minaur 44-6, 7-6 (9/7), 7-5, 7-6 (7/4), smashing down 22 aces to wrap up the win in just over four hours.

“It was my toughest match ... in this tournament so far,” the Canadian said.

It is about to get even tougher. Up next is world number one Jannik Sinner, who hammered 10th seed Lorenzo Musetti 6-1, 6-4, 6-2 in the first all-Italian men’s Grand Slam quarter-final.

Auger-Aliassime has won two of three previous meetings but Sinner thrashed him for the loss of just two games in Cincinnati last month.

“Every player who is in the semis of a Grand Slam can say they’re playing their best tennis,” added Sinner.

The 24-year-old Sinner also tied Nicola Pietrangeli for the most Grand Slams win by an Italian man with his 86th victory.

“I feel like everything can happen. From my point of view, I always try to look at myself, and I’m very happy to be in the semi-finals of a Grand Slam again,” Sinner said.

“He has improved a lot. Even in one week, you can make big adjustments, and I feel like he did that. Yes, it’s going to be a very difficult match for both of us.”

For De Minaur, it was another painful near-miss that extended his Grand Slam quarter-final losing streak to 0-6.

“My serve’s been letting me down in big matches,” lamented De Minaur, who was aiming to become the first Australian man to reach a US Open semi-final since Lleyton Hewitt in 2005. “It’s pretty tough to win a high-quality match serving the way I did today. Right now I’m looking at this like a wasted opportunity.”

Both players struggled on serve, combining for 22 double faults. Auger-Aliassime saved break points in key moments and showed the mental toughness that has defined his resurgent season.

The victory marked his first Grand Slam semi-final since his breakthrough run at the 2021 US Open, when he became the first Canadian man to reach that stage in the tournament’s history.

But the Canadian’s extended stay in New York may come at a cost. The semi-final run is interfering with his wedding plans.

“Obviously we’re probably going to have to postpone it. It’s a quick turnaround,” said Auger-Aliassime.

Published in Dawn, September 5th, 2025