(VIDEO) Amanda Anisimova in tears after disheartening second Grand Slam final loss at US Open

Amanda Anisimova was in tears after her US Open final loss to Aryna Sabalenka. The American reached back-to-back Grand Slam finals but, just like at Wimbledon two months ago, she ended up empty-handed. The American had a notable two weeks at Flushing Meadows, where she came in as the 8th seed and overcame tough opponents to reach her second Grand Slam final.

In the early rounds, Anisimova defeated Australians Kimberly Birrell and Maya Joint—both in straight sets—before facing her first major challenge against Romanian Jaqueline Cristian, whom she overcame in a three-set battle (6-4, 4-6, 6-2).

In the second week, she had a tough challenge against Brazilian 18th seed Beatriz Haddad Maia, though she swept the South American aside 6-0, 6-3. She then met none other than six-time major champion Iga Swiatek. In a repeat of the Wimbledon final from two months prior, Anisimova played her best tennis and got her revenge on the Pole, knocking her out in the quarterfinals 6-4, 6-3 and securing her spot in the semifinals.

In the semifinals, she faced four-time major champion Naomi Osaka and pulled off a surprise upset, coming back from a set down in one of the tournament's most exciting matches to win 6-7(4), 7-6(3), 6-3. With this win, Anisimova guaranteed her return to a major final, where she would face a familiar foe in Sabalenka.

Before the US Open final, Anisimova had won six of their nine previous encounters, including the Wimbledon semifinals, where the American won in three sets, leaving the Belarusian empty-handed. This time, the world No. 1 got her long-awaited revenge and, after coming so close in every Grand Slam this year, finally lifted the title.

Sabalenka had lost in the finals of the Australian Open to Madison Keys and then at Roland Garros to Coco Gauff. For the third time this year, she reached a major final, and once again she faced an American: this time Anisimova, one of the rivals who has troubled her the most in her career, being one of the few players who, on a good day, can beat Sabalenka in ball speed and power.

Anisimova's power—she was aggressive from the start—wasn't enough against a Sabalenka who was a wall from the baseline. The Belarusian took a deserved victory in an entertaining match, showing her composure in the most important moments and capitalizing on the errors of an Anisimova who wasn't entirely free from pressure.

Sabalenka secured her fourth major title and once again left Anisimova empty-handed. The American loses a Grand Slam final for the second consecutive time, although she gets a great boost in the WTA rankings as a consolation prize, reaching a career-high ranking of World No. 4 on Monday, in addition to her No. 4 position in the Race to the WTA Finals.

However, Anisimova was seen devastated and in tears at the end of the match in a video that quickly spread on social media, as she watched preparations for the awards ceremony.