India, Sept. 7 -- Aryna Sabalenka came to the US Open with a new look to her racquet. The usual dark green from the specific model she uses had been decorated with images of flames. It was to remind her that despite the tough losses at the majors this year, the fire still burned within.

She tossed that racquet aside on the blue court of the Arthur Ashe Arena on Saturday night. Her weapon had served its purpose.

She sank to the floor, face in hands, and wept. When she got up, she stood on court as the US Open champion once again.

In front of a packed and partisan crowd, Sabalenka took on eight-seeded American Amanda Anisimova in the women's singles final, scoring a hard-fought 6-3, 7-6(3) in a match that lasted 94 minutes.

The win gave...