US Open 2025 Semifinal Hit by Technical Glitch During Naomi Osaka vs Amanda Anisimova Clash
The US Open 2025 semifinal between Naomi Osaka and Amanda Anisimova descended into confusion on Thursday after an automated line-calling system malfunctioned at a critical moment.
During a tense tiebreak, with Osaka leading 6-4, the latest line-calling technology erroneously announced a “fault” mid-rally, despite the ball clearly having crossed the net multiple times. The point was eventually awarded to Anisimova, giving the American a lifeline in the match.
The dislocation, while controversial, did little to ail Osaka. The four-time Grand Slam champion secured the first set 7- 6( 7- 4) in the coming tiebreak point, keeping her on track for an implicit showdown with defending champion Aryna Sabalenka in Saturday’s final.
Osaka’s record in Grand Slam quarterfinals is perfect, a streak that signals trouble for both Anisimova and Sabalenka.
A third US Open final would mark a remarkable comeback for the 27- time-old, who returned to the stint last time following a hiatus for internal health and the birth of her son.
Reflecting on her journey, Osaka told reporters: “Yeah, I mean, I learned I loved tennis way more than I thought I did, and I learned that, you know, I actually really love challenges. You know, it’s like a video game.
You pick it up, and even if you lose a level, you kind of just restart and keep going until you eventually win. I think it’s a little tough at some times, but I wouldn’t trade it for the world.”
“I think for me, I appreciate the journey a lot more now. I think when I was younger, I kind of just kept thinking the next one, the next one, the next one.
Obviously I would love to appreciate everything right now, but you know, I have a match to play tomorrow. Yeah. They put the mom on last.
That’s crazy. So, yeah, I’ll probably tell you how much I appreciate it at the end of the tournament, which is hopefully on Saturday for me. But regardless, I’m just really grateful to be playing well in this city.”
Anisimova, meanwhile, is eager to reach her alternate successive Slam final. The 24- time-old lost heavily to Iga Swiatek in the Wimbledon final before this time, suffering a 6- 0, 6- 0 defeat.
Yet, she bounced back in the last round of the US Open, redressing her former loss to Swiatek and setting up Thursday’s tense clash with Osaka.
“Well, honestly, it was just (laughing) — it was just, like, on the court that I was really crying that much. Maybe, like, 30 minutes afterwards, but then I got on the phone with someone, and I kind of just, like, laughed it off,” Anisimova reflected on her Wimbledon loss.
“I was, like, yeah, this is insane. I don’t know. I feel like I was really able to bounce back from it really quickly.
Maybe a few years ago, I wouldn’t have done the same as well as I have this time, but yeah, it’s definitely nothing I’ve ever experienced before. I never lost 6-0, 6-0, and then to lose 6-0 in a Grand Slam final was a lot to experience.
Today I’m just really, really proud of myself. I feel like I really made a point to myself and also maybe to other people that, like, if you really put a positive mindset out there or, I don’t know, just try and work through things, then, you know, you can have a positive outcome.”
The semifinal continues to dominate headlines, not only for the high stakes of the US Open 2025 but also for the technical hiccups that raised questions about the reliability of automated line-calling systems in elite tennis.
