Amanda Anisimova Stuns Iga Swiatek, Storms Into US Open Semis

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by Misha Cruz

US tennis star Amanda Anisimova during her quarterfinal win over world no. 2 Iga Swiatek of Poland.
US tennis star Amanda Anisimova during her quarterfinal win over world no. 2 Iga Swiatek of Poland. Photo: Getty Images.

Amanda Anisimova got her wish — and then some. After hinting earlier in the week that she hoped for more crowd love in New York, the 22-year-old American was showered with support on Arthur Ashe Stadium as she delivered one of the biggest wins of her career.

Anisimova shocked six-time major champion Iga Swiatek, 6-4, 6-3, to book her first-ever semifinal spot at the US Open. It was sweet revenge, too — just two months ago, Swiatek had dismantled her 6-0, 6-0 in the Wimbledon final.

This time, the story couldn’t have been more different. Both players came out trading early breaks, but Anisimova stayed composed in the rallies and stole the first set when Swiatek’s forehand sailed long on set point. The crowd erupted, and suddenly, the underdog had momentum.

Swiatek tried to reset in the second, racing to a 2-0 lead. But the American, riding chants of “We love you Amanda!” from the Ashe faithful, battled back with three straight games. From there, Anisimova never looked back. A costly double fault from Swiatek handed her a 5-3 lead, and Anisimova sealed the upset on her third match point — with a net cord dribbler that sent the stadium into chaos.

Stat-wise, Anisimova was fearless: 23 winners, 4 of 9 break chances converted, and a relentless baseline attack that kept Swiatek guessing. The Polish star, meanwhile, could only convert two breaks all afternoon.

Amanda Anisimova.
Amanda Anisimova. Photo: Getty Images.

“It feels surreal,” Anisimova said afterward. “I prepared myself mentally more than physically for this match, and I’m just proud of how I stayed focused. This is definitely the most meaningful win of my career.”

Swiatek, gracious in defeat, admitted she expected a battle: “Amanda can play amazing tennis. Today she moved better, she played better — everything was different from Wimbledon.”

Iga Swiatek (left) embraces Amanda Anisimova at the end of their US Open quarterfinal match.
Iga Swiatek (left) embraces Amanda Anisimova at the end of their US Open quarterfinal match. Photo: Reuters.

For Anisimova, this marks her second career victory over a Top 2 player and makes her the first American woman since Serena and Venus Williams to reach the semifinals across all three Slam surfaces.

Next up? A blockbuster semifinal against Naomi Osaka. The two have met twice before, with Anisimova winning both, though their last clash came back in 2022. With a US Open final within reach, Anisimova now has the chance to make history on home soil.