Aryna Sabalenka Defends US Open Title, Wins Record $5M Prize

Aryna Sabalenka successfully defended her US Open title by defeating Amanda Anisimova 6-3, 7-6(3), becoming the first woman since Serena Williams in 2014 to repeat as champion and claiming the $5 million prize, the largest in the tournament's history. The victory marked Sabalenka's fourth Grand Slam title and came after a challenging season that included losses in the Australian Open and French Open finals, as well as a Wimbledon semi-final defeat to Anisimova. Following her win, Sabalenka shared heartfelt thanks on social media to her supporters and team, crediting their unwavering support for her success. During the trophy presentation, Sabalenka awkwardly interrupted the emcee to extend her victory speech, apologizing for giving her team a hard time and emphasizing her gratitude to them and her family who traveled to support her. She also paid tribute to tournament director Stacey Allaster, jokingly encouraging her to stay in her role. Additionally, Sabalenka appeared with Carlos Alcaraz on live television to celebrate their US Open triumphs, where a lighthearted moment occurred when Sabalenka mistakenly started to mention Jannik Sinner, Alcaraz's rivalry opponent, causing a brief awkward exchange.