Aryna Sabalenka is savouring her sweetest conquest after denying Amanda Anisimova grand slam redemption to emphatically defend her US Open crown in New York.
Sabalenka wept tears of joy and relief after living up to her top seeding with a 6-3 7-6 (7-3) victory in a mostly one-sided women's final to capture her fourth career major, adding a second Open trophy to her two Australian Open triumphs.
Atoning for shattering losses in this year's Melbourne Park and French Open title deciders, the Belarusian dominated the American eighth seed for much of Saturday's match, only faltering briefly late in the second set.
