TEARFUL Amanda Anisimova suffered major final heartbreak once again as she was crushed by Aryna Sabalenka in the US Open final.
The American tennis star sobbed on Wimbledon’s Centre Court when she was destroyed 6-0 6-0 by Iga Swiatek amid a flurry of unforced errors.
And on Saturday afternoon in New York – with thunder and lightning forcing the Arthur Ashe roof to be closed – she missed out on Slam glory for the second successive occasion.
Sabalenka, the first woman to retain the singles Championship since Serena Williams in 2014, won 6-3 7-6 in this battle of the power-hitters to bank a record £3.7million ($5m).
For the Belarussian, it was a fourth major title, all of them on hard courts, and cements her standing as the world No.1 in women’s tennis.
After Anisimova, 24, failed to convert three break points in game one and was then broken in her first service game, Yanks in the crowd must have feared the worst for the New Jersey-born ace.
Though there was no repeat of that humiliating SW19 scoreline this time, Anisimova’s self-inflicting habits returned and up went the double-fault count to seven.
And screeching Sabalenka, 27, won four games in a row from 3-2 down to claim the first set in 38 minutes.
In the concrete jungle where dreams are made of, Anisimova may have done well to force a second-set tie-break.
But she then suffered another nightmare at the highest level of the sport.
Chris Evert, who won six of her 18 major singles titles in this tournament, handed the trophies to the two finalists.
Wearing a silver, tin-foil jacket, Sabalenka said: “This is crazy.
“I love it here, I love the support. Throughout the year, we guys build a relationship where you give me so much support.
“When I had to play back-to-back against Americans in finals, I thought, ‘No way.’ But I have felt more support this year. I hope you cheer for me next year.
“I want to say congrats to Amanda for reaching back-to-back finals in the Slams. I know how much it hurts losing in the finals.
“You will win your first one. You will enjoy that even more after losing in these tough finals.”
Anisimova, who sobbed in her chair, said: “It’s been a great summer. Losing two finals in a row is not great but it’s also super hard.
“I didn’t fight hard enough for my dreams today. Congrats to Aryna. You are so incredible, I have to face you all the time.
“Thank you to everyone for supporting me at my home Slam. It has been an incredible fortnight. I absolutely love playing here. It has always been a dream to play in the final of the US Open.”
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