Amanda Anisimova leaned on manifestation throughout her run at the U.S. Open. That ride put her in the finale, where she expects a battle with Aryna Sabalenka.

Amanda Anisimova reacts after defeating Naomi Osaka of Japan in a women's semifinal match at the 2025 U.S. Open in a match that started Thursday and ended Friday in Flushing, N.Y. Photo by John Angelillo/UPI UPI Amanda Anisimova reacts after defeating Naomi Osaka of Japan in a women's singles semifinal in a match that started Saturday and ended Friday at the U.S. Open in Flushing, N.Y. Photo by John Angelillo/UPI UPI Naomi Osaka of Japan hits a return to Amanda Anisimova during a women's singles semifinal at the U.S. Open that started Thursday and ended Friday in Flushing, N.Y. Photo by John Angelillo/UPI UPI Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus reacts after defeating Jessica Pegula in a women's singles semifinal at the U.S. Open on Friday in Flushing, N.Y. Photo by John Angelillo/UPI UPI Jessica Pegula waves to the crowd after losing to Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus in a women's singles semifinal at the U.S. Open on Friday in Flushing, N.Y. Photo by John Angelillo/UPI UPI

Sept. 5 (UPI) -- Amanda Anisimova leaned on manifestation throughout her run at the U.S. Open. That ride put her in the finale, where she expects a battle with Aryna Sabalenka.

Anisimova advanced to her second consecutive Grand Slam finale through a 6-7(4), 7-6(3), 6-3 win over No. 23 Naomi Osaka of Japan, a semifinal that started Thursday and ended early Friday morning in Flushing, N.Y.

The No. 9 American will take on Sabalenka in the finale Saturday at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center.

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She said she let stress get to her early on, even accepting a potential semifinal loss, before digging deep and unearthing her game in the battle with Osaka, which lasted nearly 3 hours at Arthur Ashe Stadium.

"I just keep telling myself I can do it and I believe in myself," Anisimova told reporters. "I keep saying that over and over again, not just in the match but the whole day.

"If you manifest and visualize it, it will happen."

Osaka held advantages of 15-7 in aces and totaled 27 unforced errors and one double fault, compared to Anisimova's 45 unforced errors and six double faults. Anisimova totaled 50 winners and six break point conversions, compared to 32 and five for her foe.

"Naomi is playing amazing tennis," Anisimova said on the ESPN broadcast. "She's back where she belongs, and I told her I'm so proud of her. After having a baby, to be playing at this level -- it's insane. She was really giving me a run for the final. I wasn't sure I'd make it past the finish line. I tried to dig deep. It was a huge fight out there."

Sabalenka advanced Thursday with a 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 win over No. 4 Jessica Pegula of the United States. The Belarusian totaled eight aces, three break points and 43 winners, compared to three aces, two break points and 21 winners for the American.

Anisimova, who is still searching for her first Grand Slam singles title, has a 6-3 career record against Sabalenka, the defending champion.

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"It's the No. 1 player in the world and she's playing amazing tennis," Anisimova said of Sabalenka. "It's gonna be a really tough match and a battle. I'm excited. Every time we've played, it's been great."

Sabalenka and Anisimova will meet at 4 p.m. EDT Saturday at Arthur Ashe Stadium. The match will air on ESPN.

No. 7 Novak Djokovic of Serbia will take on No. 2 Carlos Alcaraz of Spain in the first of two men's singles semifinals at 3 p.m. Friday in Flushing. No. 1 Jannik Sinner of Italy will meet No. 27 Felix Auger-Aliassime of Canada in the last semifinal after the Djokovic-Alcaraz match. Those matches also will air on ESPN.