American tennis player Amanda Anisimova pulled off one of the biggest surprises of the U.S. Open on Wednesday, defeating second seed Iga Swiatek 4–6, 6–3 in the quarterfinals to advance to her first career semifinal at Flushing Meadows. The result sends the 23-year-old into the last four of a Grand Slam for the third time in her career, and the first time on home soil.
The victory also marked a sharp reversal of fortune from their most recent meeting at Wimbledon earlier this year, when Swiatek dominated Anisimova 6–0, 6–0 in the final. This time, however, Anisimova handled the pressure on Arthur Ashe Stadium with poise, converting four of her nine break points and outlasting the Polish star in just under 100 minutes.
Anisimova, seeded eighth in the tournament, started slowly as Swiatek claimed the opening set. But she responded with aggressive baseline play, forcing errors from her opponent and capitalizing on second-serve returns. Her ability to maintain composure in long rallies proved decisive as she turned the momentum in the second set.
“I knew I had to stay aggressive and trust myself,” Anisimova said in her post-match press conference. “Iga is one of the toughest players out there, so I’m really proud of the way I handled the big points.”
Swiatek managed two breaks of serve but struggled with consistency, particularly on her forehand side. She committed 28 unforced errors to Anisimova’s 19 and later admitted that her opponent’s returning game kept her under constant pressure.
Swiatek, a six-time Grand Slam champion and winner of the French Open earlier this year, acknowledged that she never found her best rhythm. “She played really well, and I wasn’t able to respond in the right moments,” Swiatek told reporters. “It’s disappointing because I felt like I had control in the first set, but the match slipped away quickly.”
The defeat ended Swiatek’s hopes of claiming a seventh major title and denied her the chance to reach back-to-back semifinals in New York. Despite the setback, she remains firmly entrenched near the top of the WTA rankings and is expected to continue as one of the sport’s leading players.
For Anisimova, the quarterfinal win capped a strong two weeks of tennis. She opened the tournament with a straight-sets victory over Kimberly Birrell, followed by wins over higher-ranked opponents that tested her endurance. Each round built confidence, culminating in her most significant victory of the season against Swiatek.
This marks Anisimova’s third career Grand Slam semifinal, following previous runs at the 2019 French Open and 2025 Wimbledon. Unlike those occasions, this time she will compete in front of home fans in New York.
Anisimova will next face four-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka, who booked her semifinal spot with a 6–4, 6–3 win over Karolina Muchova earlier in the day. Osaka, seeded 23rd, is appearing in her first major semifinal since 2021 and has shown signs of returning to her championship-winning form.
“I have a lot of respect for Naomi,” Anisimova said. “She’s been a champion here before and knows what it takes. I’ll need to play my very best to have a chance.”
On the other side of the women’s draw, defending champion Aryna Sabalenka advanced after opponent Marketa Vondrousova withdrew with injury. Sabalenka will meet American Jessica Pegula, who defeated Ons Jabeur in straight sets. That semifinal guarantees at least one U.S. player in the final.
With both Anisimova and Pegula reaching the semifinals, the United States is assured of strong representation in the latter stages of the U.S. Open. For American fans, Anisimova’s upset win over Swiatek provided a major boost, especially given her previous struggles against top-ranked opponents.
Tennis analysts noted that the victory could mark a turning point in her career. “This was a maturity match for Amanda,” ESPN commentator Chris Evert said. “She handled the pressure points exceptionally well and showed she can beat the very best.”
The atmosphere at Arthur Ashe Stadium reflected the moment, with the majority of the 20,000-strong crowd cheering loudly for Anisimova throughout the contest. Each winner was met with thunderous applause, while Swiatek at times looked rattled by the partisan support.
Residents of New York, long known for embracing homegrown talent, celebrated the win as a potential springboard for another U.S. Open champion. The last American to win the women’s singles title was Sloane Stephens in 2017.
The semifinal lineup now promises compelling matchups: Anisimova versus Osaka in one half, and Sabalenka versus Pegula in the other. For Anisimova, the chance to reach her first Grand Slam final represents both an opportunity and a challenge, as she faces a player with significant U.S. Open experience.
Tournament officials confirmed that the women’s semifinals will be played on Friday evening at Arthur Ashe Stadium, with global television coverage expected to draw millions of viewers.
Amanda Anisimova’s victory over Iga Swiatek stands as one of the defining moments of the 2025 U.S. Open so far. For Swiatek, the loss represents a rare stumble in an otherwise dominant career, while for Anisimova, it signifies growth, resilience, and the realization of potential on one of the sport’s biggest stages.
With the semifinals set, the spotlight remains firmly on Flushing Meadows, where the world will watch to see if Anisimova’s breakthrough run can carry her all the way to a U.S. Open final.