Anisimova on redemption mission against Sabalenka

AMANDA Anisimova will bid to crown her improbable redemption mission at the US Open tonight as World No 1 Aryna Sabalenka seeks to grab her final chance of the year to win a Grand Slam.

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Two months after suffering a catastrophic 6-0, 6-0 thrashing in the Wimbledon final, Anisimova has bounced back to stand on the brink of completing a fairytale comeback in New York.

The 24-year-old eighth seed held her nerve to battle past Naomi Osaka in the semifinals, winning 6-7 (4/7), 7-6 (7/3), 6-3 in an instant classic that finished in the early hours of yesterday morning.

For Anisimova, the win represented a personal triumph after the trauma of her drubbing by Iga Swiatek at Wimbledon in July.

The American, who took an eight-month break from tennis in 2023 citing burnout and depression, says her success in New York is attributable to the steps she has taken to prioritise her mental health.

"Obviously, it served me well, and I'm really happy with the choice that I made," Anisimova said of her decision to step away from the sport.

"It's clearly paying off now, and I feel like I have a whole new perspective when I step onto the court. Even on regular days or training days, I think I appreciate the process a lot more than I used to."