US Open: Sabalenka defends crown with win over Anisimova

Aryna Sabalenka was two points away from what eventually would be a second consecutive U.S. Open title when she had what should have been a routine – easy, even-overhead smash. Instead, while backpedaling, she dumped the ball into the net, giving her opponent, Amanda Anisimova, a break chance.

- AGENCIES

After that excruciating miss Saturday, Sabalenka dropped her racket on the blue court and smiled a rueful smile. She began to feel the sort of emotions that got the better of her during losses in the finals at the Australian Open in January and French Open in June bubble up. She tried to compose herself.

"I just let the doubt get into my head," Sabalenka explained. "But then I turned around and I took a deep breath in, and I was like, 'OK. It happens. It's in the past. Let's focus on the next one.'"

So everything was fine from there? Well, no. "She broke me," Sabalenka said with a loud laugh. "I was like, 'OK... Reset.'"