The closing chapters of the week at Arthur Ashe offered a masterclass in what it means to stay at the summit of the sport. Anisimova’s season comeback against Swiatek captured the drama of high-stakes tennis, while Sinner’s shift into clinical precision underlined his championship intent. As the weekend beckons, the stage is set for more of the theatre only New York can deliver.
The quarterfinals delivered tennis at its most compelling. Day or night, men’s or women’s, the energy of the last eight was unmistakable — each player straining to climb one more step towards the game’s main stage.
Félix Auger-Aliassime and Novak Djokovic deserve special mention for the authority with which they secured their spot in the semi-finals. Auger-Aliassime’s route was anything but simple: a four-set duel with Australia’s Alex de Minaur [8], edged by two tense tie-breaks that could have tipped either way. His 4-6, 7-6, 7-5, 7-6 victory was as gripping as it was polished — a showcase of top-20 talent battling to carve out a place among the final four.
On the other side, Djokovic was back. He made his rival look less like a world No. 6 and more like a world No. 20. Dressed in his signature black for the US Open night session, he gave New York a show — as he recently admitted in an interview, relishing the spotlight suits him well. Focused and ruthless, he forced the younger man to do all the running while barely breaking stride himself. His bond with New York remains unique: the showmanship, the taunts, the devotion to the crowd were simply too much for Taylor Fritz. He sealed his 6-3, 7-5, 3-6, 6-4 victory with a cheeky, playful celebration, a reminder that when Nole is enjoying his tennis, he is a force of nature.
Alongside the two giants, the script unfolded with familiar brilliance. Alcaraz swept past Lehecka to book his place in the semi-finals, extending a streak that makes his rivals appear a step below his level. The final score was 6-4, 6-2, 6-4 for the Cincinnati champion, to which only a clash with Sinner seems capable of shifting the balance. On the other side of the draw, Jannik roared past Musetti 6-1, 6-4, 6-2 with their final point ending with a forlorn netted shot from Musetti — a telling image of resignation that many of his opponents have felt. The world No. 1 responded with another masterclass, adding to his demolition of Bublik and his gritty escape against Shapovalov.
Credit goes first to Anisimova, who turned the page on her bruising Wimbledon loss to Swiatek by knocking the Pole out on home soil. She then rallied past Naomi Osaka in the semi-finals, overturning a first-set deficit to win 6-7, 7-6, 6-3 and secure her second Grand Slam final of 2025 — a testament to her remarkable form. Once ranked No. 13, the American has now toppled both the world No. 1 and No. 2 in the space of two months and is aiming for a celebration on Saturday.
Sabalenka, meanwhile, remains laser-focused on defending her crown. Though she dropped the opening set to Jessica Pegula, her trademark intensity and resilience pulled her back into the match, ensuring her title defence is still very much alive.
On the Women’s side, Anisimova now meets the relentless force of the world’s No.1, Aryna Sabalenka, to play the US Open final. She bested the Belarusian in the Wimbledon quarterfinals earlier this year, but this rematch promises to be as much a mental battle as a physical one — a clash of raw power against tactical guile, with Anisimova more than capable of unsettling her opponent. It promises to be a contest to remember on Saturday, September 6th at 10pm EST.
For the US Open’s day session, Djokovic meets Carlos Alcaraz next in the semi-finals. The greatest of all time has his sights set on one number: 25. That’s the Grand Slam he’s chasing to extend his already historic tally of 24. Yet Alcaraz has owned this championship from start to finish, showcasing the full spectrum of modern tennis. Youth and fire will take on experience and legacy — and the Spaniard looks poised to drive his way into yet another final.
On the other side of the draw, Sinner will take on an in-form Auger-Aliassime under the Friday night lights at Arthur Ashe. Yet form appears firmly on the South Tyrolean’s side: his commanding wins over Bublik and Musetti suggest his focus is already fixed on a Cincinnati rematch with Alcaraz. Auger-Aliassime may stretch him, but he has yet to truly convince as a potential upsetter.
A Sunday showdown between Sinner and Alcaraz could not only decide this year’s battle for world No. 1, but also set the tone for the 2026 season to come.
