Aryna Sabalenka successfully defended her US Open title on September 6, 2025, defeating Amanda Anisimova 6-3, 7-6(3) in the women’s final at Arthur Ashe Stadium, securing her fourth Grand Slam singles crown and becoming the first player to win back-to-back US Open titles since Serena Williams’ three-peat from 2012-2014. The 27-year-old Belarusian World No. 1 delivered an emotional on-court speech during the trophy ceremony, only to halt proceedings when emcee Mary Carillo attempted to cut her off prematurely, ensuring she could express her gratitude fully. In a heartfelt message, Sabalenka thanked her team, family, and boyfriend Georgios Frangulis, while apologizing for her past behavior during tough losses earlier in the year.
Sabalenka’s path to the final included straight-set wins over Rebeka Masarova, Polina Kudermetova, Leylah Fernandez, and Cristina Bucșa, a quarterfinal walkover against Marketa Vondrousova due to injury, and a semifinal victory over Jessica Pegula. Against Anisimova, she converted all three break points while saving three of five, finishing with 28 winners in a 94-minute match, per *ATP Tour* stats. This marked her 100th Grand Slam main-draw win, the second-most for a woman in the Open Era behind Iga Świątek.
During the ceremony, after reflecting on the crowd’s growing support—”I love it here… you guys give me so much support”—Carillo tried to present the winner’s check. Sabalenka interjected with a smile: “Wait, wait, wait. I need to say thank you to my team. I’m not done. What do you mean?” The crowd laughed as she continued: “I want to say thank you to my team, to my family, to everyone who came here… It’s been tough this year. In those finals [Australian Open and French Open losses], I was really terrible towards you. But come on, it’s worth it, right? I love you, you’re my family.” She then addressed Frangulis, the Brazilian entrepreneur and Oakberry founder she’s dated since 2024: “And thank you to my boyfriend who is always there for me, cheering me on. Without your support, I wouldn’t be able to make it.”
Sabalenka also apologized to viewers at home: “I know people at home are watching. I’m sorry, I’m really long today, I know it can get annoying!” She shared a touching story about receiving a video from kids at her childhood tennis school in Belarus, who cheered her on: “I was a little bit crying this morning… I cannot let them down.” Carillo joked afterward, “She said she was speechless!”
The apology to her team referenced her emotional outbursts after losses to Madison Keys (Australian Open final) and Coco Gauff (French Open final), where she faced criticism for comments downplaying opponents’ play. Sabalenka had previously apologized to Gauff privately and publicly, learning from the experience. Her handling of the Wimbledon semifinal loss to Anisimova earlier in 2025, where she demanded an apology for a net-cord point, showed growth, as she focused on positivity post-final.
Frangulis, 36, has been a pillar of support since they met in 2024, shortly after the tragic suicide of Sabalenka’s ex, Konstantin Koltsov. He attended the final and has joined her at majors, including Wimbledon. Sabalenka credited him for helping her through grief, telling *People*, “He was my biggest support.” Their relationship includes fun moments, like a viral mid-match proposal during her third-round win over Fernandez, where she quipped, “I looked at my boyfriend. No pressure,” sparking engagement rumors she denied.
Sabalenka’s triumph, her first title since the 2024 US Open amid a 2025 season of three final losses, solidifies her as a hard-court dominator. With 100 Slam wins and a strengthened bond with Frangulis, she eyes more majors in 2026.
