Right, it’s time for me to take my leave, but we’ll have Tumaini’s match report on the site shortly.And then Daniel will be here for Alcaraz v Sinner tomorrow, the lucky chap.Many thanks as always for joining us.Bye!Sabalenka seems unsure whether to go for the cheque or the trophy.I think I’d dive for the cheque, given it’s for $5m, but she opts for the trophy.

All of her four slam triumphs will feel special, of course, for different reasons, but I imagine this will be right up there, after a season of just missing out on the major titles.She felt as if she’d let herself down in the French Open final against Gauff, not only during the match but what she said after it, but she showed real maturity today.Now here’s the beaming victor, with her silver tracksuit top on.It’s all a bit Back to the Future II.They just need to give her a hoverboard.

But anyway, I digress.“All those tough lessons were worth this one,” Sabalenka says.“I want to say congrats Amanda for reaching back-to-back finals at the slams.I know how much it hurts, but trust me, you’re going to win one.You’ll enjoy it even more after these tough losses.

”She’s about to be given her trophy and winner’s cheque, but she stops the ceremony because she’s forgotten to thank her team - “I love you, you’re my family” – and she apologises for how she’s treated them in those two other slam finals this year.“Worth it, right?” she quips.She also thanks the outgoing tournament director Stacey Allaster and has got a word for the young tennis players in Belarus who are watching.Here comes the runner-up.“It’s been a great summer, but losing in two finals in a row is also super hard.

I didn’t fight hard enough for my dreams,” Anisimova says, heartbreakingly.“I just want to say congrats to Aryna, you’re so incredible, I’m in awe of what you’ve accomplished and you keep on achieving incredible things.“Thank you for everyone for coming out and supporting me at my home slam.It’s been an incredible fortnight, it’s always been a dream of mine to play in the final of the US Open.It’s been a crazy journey.

”It’s a fourth grand slam title overall for Sabalenka and she’s the first player to successfully defend their US Open singles title since Serena Williams in 2014,Her record in her past six hard-court majors reads W/F/W/W/F/W,It’s almost Sinner-like,VICTORIOUS ARYNA ✨Sabalenka takes down Anisimova in straight sets to claim the US Open title for the second year in a row! pic,twitter.

com/GsfxGiLJy0Sabalenka sinks to her knees and is crying, before Anisimova comes over to her side of the net to share an embrace.Sabalenka celebrates with her team.And now Anisimova is crying too.Her disappointment is, of course, understandable, but I hope she isn’t too hard on herself.She played a good match – her level was higher than Sabalenka at times, but she was just too up and down.

Sabalenka, meanwhile, had clearly learned from her two major final defeats this year and was able to maintain a state of equilibrium.… credit to Sabalenka for the way she’s put that missed overhead at 5-4 to the back of her mind.And she’s nonchalantly hitting the balls back to Anisimova to serve, after setting up five championship points for 6-1.Anisimova’s serve is too strong for Sabalenka on the first, Sabalenka tries to bury her return on the second … but overcooks her forehand.But now the third championship point is on her own serve, and Anisimova goes wide! It’s back-to-back US Open titles for Sabalenka! After her season of what-ifs, she’s finally got her hands on a slam trophy, banishing her demons from the Australian Open and French Open finals.

For Anisimova, it’s another defeat in a slam final, but after not turning up at Wimbledon, she more than played her part this time.… and Anisimova doubles.Ach.That second serve didn’t miss by much.But, anyhow, it’s her fifth double fault of the set.

So it’s 4-1 Sabalenka … and 5-1 at the changeover after a snarling serve …Sabalenka is 20-1 in tie-breaks this year.That’s phenomenal.Though Anisimova did come through a second-set tie-break against Osaka in their semi-final.Anisimova sends down an ace on the opening point … Sabalenka steadies herself for 1-1 and then 2-1, as the crowd are rebuked by the umpire for being too shouty.Who can blame them though? Sabalenka seizes the first mini-break for 3-1 …Second set: Sabalenka 6-3, 6-6 Anisimova* (*denotes next server)A net cord distracts Anisimova on the opening point.

Sabalenka strikes long on the second,15-all turns into 30-15, and Sablenka pulls off a classic one-two punch for 40-15,Anisimova then nets her return,A steely hold from Sabalenka,Will this be the turning point? pic.

twitter.com/ytTqAib7PlSecond set: *Sabalenka 6-3, 5-6 Anisimova (*denotes next server)But every time Anisimova seems to have got herself back into this match, she has faltered.Will this be any different? Yes, because she holds to 30, despite a double fault! Having been two points from defeat, Anisimova is now on top.She even allows herself a smile at the changeover.She knows at the very least she’s got herself a tie-break.

Anisimova breaks: Sabalenka 6-3, 5-5 Anisimova* (*denotes next server)So, after two grand slam final defeats this year, can Sabalenka get the job done? She starts how she doesn’t mean to go on, as Anisimova attacks her serve and is rewarded for that bravery.Another slightly safe serve and Anisimova is all over that too! 0-30.This time a gutsy second serve saves Sabalenka, cue her biggest roar of the match so far.She’s willing herself over the line.And then hitting herself over the line, when she fizzes a forehand winner.

30-all.Will it be break point or match point? It looks for all of Arthur Ashe as though it’ll be match point … but Sabalenka mis-times her smash, jumping far too early, and whacks into the net! P-R-E-S-S-U-R-E.And Anisimova strikes with a forehand down the line! This match isn’t over yet.Second set: *Sabalenka 6-3, 5-4 Anisimova (*denotes next server)Perhaps now the pressure is almost off, Anisimova will swing more freely again.Which is exactly how this game plays out.

15-0, 30-0, 40-0.Well, how it starts to play out.Because Sabalenka smacks down a smash for 40-15.And then hits a beautiful backhand return, which sets up the point for her.40-30.

But Anisimova survives from there.Sabalenka, though, is just 90 seconds away from serving for her second US Open title.Second set: Sabalenka 6-3, 5-3 Anisimova* (*denotes next server)A no-fuss, quicker than quick hold from Sabalenka to 15.Anisimova will serve to stay in this.Sabalenka breaks: *Sabalenka 6-3, 4-3 Anisimova (*denotes next server)But then Anisimova gets in on the double fault act, slipping to 15-30 and then 15-40 with a loose forehand error.

Sabalenka’s return then rocks Anisimova, who can’t get the ball back,She’s been all over Anisimova’s second serve today,Just as in the first set, Anisimova has worked so hard to haul herself level, but then it gets away from her in the blink of an eye,She’ll be kicking herself,Sabalenka is two games away from retaining her title.

Anisimova breaks: Sabalenka 6-3, 3-3 Anisimova* (*denotes next server)Some of the celebrities in the house are shown on the big screen at the changeover.No signs of any marriage proposals yet though, after someone proposed in the crowd during Sabalenka’s third-round win over Leylah Fernandez.Which led to this exchange on Sky Sports.Awkward.But back to more immediate matters, because Anisimova has whipped the crowd into a New York frenzy with a one-two punch for 0-15 on Sabalenka’s serve.

Which develops into 0-30.And then 0-40, when Sabalenka double faults! Well, well.Now it’s the defending champ who’s feeling the nerves.And Anisimova breaks with another one of those trademark backhands! She’s right back in it! And Arthur Ashe erupts!Back on serve in the second set!Anisimova breaks Sabalenka to love.pic.

twitter.com/GqbF4cKjrfSecond set: *Sabalenka 6-3, 3-2 Anisimova (*denotes next server)Anisimova reminds Sabalenka that she hasn’t totally gone away, with a backhand winner.But from 30-15, she snatches at her shot and nets.She’s chattering and chuntering to herself and doesn’t look as if she believes she can turn this around.But Sabalenka then morphs into Anisimova, going for broke, and missing.

40-15.Game, when Sabalenka tamely nets.Second set: Sabalenka 6-3, 3-1 Anisimova* (*denotes next server)“She just doesn’t know whether to hit harder or softer, because her normal game isn’t working,” says Navratilova of the quandary Anisimova now finds herself in.And Sabalenka bosses another service game, getting to 40-15 before scooping a wonderful backhand cross-court, and Anisimova isn’t getting that back into play.The break is consolidated.

Sabalenka breaks: *Sabalenka 6-3, 2-1 Anisimova (*denotes next server)Sabalenka gets her biggest cheer of the night when, defending for her life, scurrying left and right and left and right at the baseline and then forward to the drop shot, out drop shots Anisimova to reach 0-30! The camera pans in on Courteney Cox, who’s voicing her approval,And Sabalenka goes on to break with a backhand winner! Sabalenka has weathered that mid-first-set storm from Anisimova and is now firmly in control,Second set: Sabalenka 6-3, 1-1 Anisimova* (*denotes next server)Another chat between the umpire and Anisimova at the change of ends,The umpire says nothing can be done and it’s been the same all week,Anisimova’s reply? “That’s ridiculous.

” She needs to refocus.And for the first time in this final, Sabalenka holds to love.Anisimova has come from a set down this fortnight already, by the way, against Osaka in the semi-finals, ending a three-year, eight-match losing streak after losing the first set at a grand slam.But doing so against Sabalenka is another matter entirely.Second set: *Sabalenka 6-3, 0-1 Anisimova (*denotes next server)Anisimova is now complaining to the umpire; I think it’s to do with the lights affecting her ball toss.

I can’t see how anything will change, though.She needs to get it out of her mind and reset.And show more patience than she did in that opening set, when she hit 15 unforced errors to Sabalenka’s four.She seems poised to do that when she advances to 40-30, but then here’s a wobbly double and it’s deuce.Advantage Anisimova