Aryna Sabalenka sees off Amanda Anisimova to retain US Open title

Sabalenka is the first woman since Serena Williams to successfully defend the title. 

Aryna Sabalenka roars in celebration (Kirsty Wigglesworth/AP)

Aryna Sabalenka ended a painful grand slam season on a glorious high by defeating Amanda Anisimova to retain her US Open crown.

Both women were looking to bury recent scar tissue, with Anisimova back in a major final 56 days after her Wimbledon whitewash, while Sabalenka suffered heart-breaking defeats at both the Australian Open and French Open – forced to apologise after an ungracious press conference towards winner Coco Gauff at the latter.