The U.S. Open women’s final and the art of the Grand Slam runner-up speech

Tennis

U.S. Open

FLUSHING, N.Y. — The last time Aryna Sabalenka stood in front of a microphone after losing a Grand Slam final, her speech was heard around the world.

After her twisting French Open final defeat to Coco Gauff, Sabalenka opened with “this one hurts so much, guys.” Then she lamented her performance, the conditions, and the match itself, describing all three as “terrible” before congratulating Gauff and thanking her team, again apologizing for “this terrible final.”

Saturday at the U.S. Open, Sabalenka met Amanda Anisimova, who also captured the world’s imagination with her last major-final speech. After the humiliation of a 6-0, 6-0 Wimbledon final defeat to Iga Świątek — the first double bagel in a Wimbledon final since 1911 — Anisimova broke down in tears before she delivered a heartfelt monologue lasting more than five minutes (not far off a tenth of the match length) that paid tribute to her mum, describing her as “the most selfless person I know.”