Chris Evert begrudgingly pointed out a key weakness she spotted in Amanda Anisimova’s game tonight, as she lost the US Open final to Aryna Sabalenka.
It was a hard-fought affair, and far closer than the straight-sets tagline would suggest.
However, whilst the two exchanged breaks throughout both sets, it strangely always felt as though the 27-year-old would come out on top.
After all, she used her superior experience to her advantage, reverting from her brutal, hard-hitting philosophy in favour of a more defensive strategy. This allowed her to survive until Amanda Anisimova made a mistake, and she made plenty.
Evert would try to explain the key issue that was causing so many unforced errors to fly off the racket of the American contender.
Chris Evert shares Amanda Anisimova’s weakness during US Open final
Speaking live on ESPN, it was actually Mary Joe Fernandez who kickstarted this particular analysis, pointing out: “Amanda’s coach told her, as she went over after she got broken, Stay in motion. She gave him a big sigh.”
Evert responded: “Yeah, it’s always been about the feet with her. If she has any weakness, that would be it. You know, the word is you’ve got to move her, get her out of her strike zone, and you’ve got a shot.”
Then, later on in the match, the 18-time Grand Slam singles champion added: “Not putting the ball in front of her, not taking it early. And a lot of it is to do with the footwork, Mary, what do you think?”
Fernandez replied: “Absolutely, because she plays with such little margin, Anisimova, that if her footwork is not precise, then you see more errors. And the forehand really let her down at the end of that scene.
“I think if she’s going to come back in this match, she’s going to have to dial it back a little bit on that forehand.
“She’s going so hard every single time. Maybe take a page out of Sabalenka’s book so far.”
Evert also questioned Anisimova’s complaint to the umpire mid-match, in what was not as critical a night as it might have seemed.
Aryna Sabalenka finally wins a Grand Slam title in 2025
It would have been supremely cruel if Aryna Sabalenka had gone through an entire calendar year, particularly one where she was so dominant, without a major title.
After all, she reached the final of the first two and the semi-finals at Wimbledon, yet was defeated by an American on every occasion.
First, Madison Keys stunned the world in Melbourne, before Sabalenka self-destructed at the French Open.
Anisimova outclassed her at the All-England Club, and this US Open served as revenge and redemption for a four-time major champion who deserved a reward for her relentless efforts throughout the year.
