Amanda Anisimova makes shock medical confession after US Open final defeat

Amanda Anisimova revealed her recent difficulty in hearing following defeat to Aryna Sabalenka in the US Open final.

The home favourite was beaten 6-3 7-6 [7-3] in New York in what was a second consecutive Grand Slam final loss for the 24-year-old.

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Anisimova fell to a double bogey defeat against Iga Swiatek at Wimbledon in July, with play on Centre Court lasting just 57 minutes.

This time at Flushing Meadows, she was able to push the world no. 1 to a second set tie-break before eventually losing in straight sets.

Anisimova was visibly emotional once defeat was confirmed having missed out on another opportunity to win her first Grand Slam title.

As is customary in finals, the US Open runner-up was first to speak in her on-court interview on top of the trophy presentation stage.

She spoke for less than two minutes before being told by interviewer Mary Carillo that she would be presented with the finalist trophy.

The awkward interaction was later repeated in Sabalenka’s speech when she insisted she wasn’t finished with her messages of thanks.

“Just a few more words,” Anisimova said, before adding: “I can’t hear you by the way, I’m deaf in one ear for the last two weeks.”

Anisimova was then able to say: “I want to say a big thank you to my team, you guys are amazing and you’ve helped me get to this point.

“It’s been a crazy, crazy journey, and a big thank you to my family and everyone who’s a part of my life, who is also like family to me.

“All of my sponsors, IMG, my agency, who’s also my family and has been with me through this crazy journey too.

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“So, big thank you to everyone and I love all of you guys.”

How Anisimova reflected on US Open final defeat

Anisimova claimed that she didn’t ‘fight hard enough for my dreams today’ during her speech.

She was then asked about this comment in her press conference, and explained: “Yeah, I don’t know. I just felt throughout the match I wasn’t playing my best tennis, or… I don’t know.

“I feel like with finals, I have a lot of nerves, and it’s something I’m trying to work on. But I wish I played more aggressive and, of course, she was playing amazing.

“She was playing very aggressive and doing all the right things, so she made it very difficult for me today. I didn’t win today, so of course I didn’t do enough, that’s just the reality and I have to accept that.

“I feel like if I fought harder, then maybe I would have given myself more of a chance, but I feel like I was really in the backseat today.”

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Sabalenka’s win made her the first player to retain the US Open women’s singles title for the first time since Serena Williams in 2014.

It also came after defeats in the Australian and French Open finals earlier in the year, as well as a semi-final exit from Wimbledon.