Playing on Arthur Ashe Stadium with the home crowd behind her, Anisimova engaged Swiatek in long rallies from the start.

Late in the first set, a 17-shot rally saw Swiatek save a break point. However, the six-time Grand Slam champion couldn't avoid losing the game as Anisimova won the next two points. In the deciding game, the eighth seed forced her opponent to hit a forehand wide on her second set point, winning the set 6-4.

Swiatek (left) congratulates Anisimova after their US Open quarterfinal match at Arthur Ashe Stadium in New York on 3/9. Photo: *Reuters*

Compared to the Wimbledon final, Anisimova played with more confidence and fewer errors on her preferred hard court surface. Despite trailing 0-2 in the second set, Anisimova maintained her composure amidst chants of "We love Amanda" from the stands. The 24-year-old won the next three games to regain the lead and then capitalized on another break point to go up 5-3. In the final game, despite missing two match points, Anisimova benefited from a net cord that sent the ball trickling over to Swiatek's side, leaving the Polish player unable to react.

Anisimova's dominant performance included 23 winners, 10 more than Swiatek. She converted four of nine break points and faced only four break points herself. "The key to this victory was mental preparation," the American said after the match. "Going in with the right mindset helped me overcome the challenges, especially given the Wimbledon result."

Swiatek dismissed any notion of complacency following her dominant win in London two months prior. "Everyone knows how good Anisimova is," she said. "She didn't play well in the Wimbledon final, but that was just a bad day, not reflective of her level. I was prepared for a tough match, and that's exactly what it was."

Anisimova will have a chance to play in her second consecutive major final if she defeats another former champion, Naomi Osaka, who is making a remarkable comeback at Flushing Meadows. The Japanese player defeated 11th seed Karolina Muchova 6-4, 7-6 with a solid game, controlled emotions, and agile movement.

Osaka's success follows her partnership with coach Tomasz Wiktorowski, who previously guided Swiatek to four Grand Slam titles. In the fourth round, Osaka impressed by defeating third seed Coco Gauff 6-3, 6-2 in just 64 minutes.

This is Osaka's first major tournament as a seeded player since returning to the sport last year. She is a two-time US Open champion, having won in 2018 and 2020. In 2023, she took a break from tennis to have a child after experiencing mental health challenges.

The other semifinal will feature top seed Aryna Sabalenka against another American, Jessica Pegula. Sabalenka received a walkover into the semifinals after her opponent, Marketa Vondrousova, withdrew.

Vy Anh