*Flushing, New York – Naomi Osaka, Felix Auger-Aliassime, and Amanda Anisimova have busted up the US Open party. They booked spots in the semis, all upsetting higher seeds in doing so.
Osaka is an honorary American, Aliassime is our Canadian cousin (tariff war aside ?), and Anisimova is one of the only two actual Americans (J. Pegula) – man or woman – still standing in New York.
Analysts were predicting differently, but …
Osaka took out the 11th seed, Karolina Muchova, Aliassime, seeded 25th, took out the 7th seed, Alex De Minaur (AUS).
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Meanwhile, Anisimova exacted sweet revenge over the 2nd seed, Poland’s Iga Swiatek.
Amanda Anisimova Finds Her Game
Anisimova had just been annihilated by Swiatek, 0-6, 0-6 at Wimbledon not long ago. It was a spirit-crushing experience, but she chose to learn from it. The American’s was eager for a chance to redeem her tears – not realizing she’d get a chance so soon after – and she did just that in straight sets, 6-4, 6-3 on Wednesday.
“I don’t know. I feel like I was really able to bounce back from it (Wimbledon loss) really quickly,” Anisomova said. “Maybe a few years ago I wouldn’t have done the same as well as I have this time, but yeah, it’s definitely nothing I’ve ever experienced before. I never lost 6-0, 6-0, and then to lose 6-0 in a Grand Slam final was a lot to experience … today I’m just really, really proud of myself..”
It was an impressive display of bravery and composure, for the 8th seed.
Anisimova will next face Naomi Osaka in a blockbuster semifinal.
Felix Auger-Aliassime Finds His Heart
Felix Aliassime entered Thursday’s match with a winning head to head over Alex De Minaur. But on the biggest of stages, the Canadian had been known to choke. Not this time, though … he got ‘er done in 4 up-and-down but gutsy sets, 4-6, 7(9)-6, 7-5, 7(7)-6
“… glad to get the win, for sure, to be through and give myself a chance to play in the semifinals coming up. So that’s the first thing that I’m really happy about,” he said.
“Then the match was difficult in many ways, but I can, you know — when you win, you give yourself time to improve and to give it another chance to play even better. So that’s what I’ll remember from today.”
It’s the second US Open semi in his career, but he’s more sure-footed this time around.
He will face the winner of the Sinner and Musetti quarterfinal on Friday.
Taylor Townsend Rolls in Doubles
Taylor Townsend has put her singles heartbreak firmly behind her and continues to roll at the US Open in doubles play.
She and her partner, Katerina Siniakova, are the number one seeds and are the favorites to hoist the trophy once it’s all said and done. Townsend and Siniakova mowed down Venus Williams and Leylah Fernandez, 6-1, 6-2, in the quarterfinals action on Tuesday – “respectfully” but mercilessly ending the veteran’s fairytale comeback. The pair then took out 4th seeded Elise Mertens and Veronika Kudermetova on Wednesday’s in the semis, 6-3, 7(7)-6.
Taylor’s vow to capitalize on her newfound momentum is materializing … she’ll play Dabrowski and Routliffe (3) for the trophy on Friday.
Naomi Osaka is Back at Home
Naomi Osaka found herself right back where she belonged, in primetime night session play on Arthur Ashe on Wednesday. She was facing 11th seeded Czech, Karolina Muchova – a very tough opponent.
A 2-time US Open winner, Osaka left the game to experience motherhood, then came back to pick up where she left off. But her absence saw her competition get a little stiffer, and she found herself on the struggle bus trying to regain her form for a spell. It had been a string of almost-won heartbreaks, public meltdowns, and coaching changes since her return, but her patience has finally paid off.
Osaka put the pieces together in New York and now finds herself in the US Open semi final. She took Muchova down, 6-4, 7(7)-6 in an epic final-worthy battle on Wednesday night. It’s the closest she’s been to winning another Grand Slam – would be her 5th – since her return, in January of 2024.
“Yeah, I mean, I learned I loved tennis way more than I thought I did, and I learned that, you know, I actually really love challenges,” she said. “You know, it’s like a video game. You pick it up, and even if you lose a level, you kind of just restart and keep going until you eventually win.”
“I think it’s a little tough at some times, but I wouldn’t trade it for the world.”
As mentioned, she’ll face Anisimova on Thursday for a spot in Saturday’s final.
Check your local listings.
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