Amanda Anisimova’s rise to the apex of the WTA Tour has been meteoric and richly deserved, marking one of the best stories to come out of tennis in recent years.
After all, having taken the supremely brave decision to step away from the sport for eight months back in 2023, prioritising her mental health, it’s been so uplifting to see her return with renewed vigour and quality.
Two Grand Slam finals act as the perfect marker of her new level, justifiably circling around the pinnacle of the sport.
However, she is still some way from catching Aryna Sabalenka at the true peak, with her respect for the 28-year-old immense.
Amanda Anisimova claims Aryna Sabalenka has changed the atmosphere on the WTA Tour
Speaking to the BBC Sport ahead of Wimbledon, Amanda Anisimova was actually discussing her career thus far, and the struggles she encountered when breaking onto the WTA Tour as an unknown youngster keen to make her mark.
Referencing the frosty atmosphere that at times plagued the sport, she has thanked Sabalenka for helping spearhead a shift away from that.
Will Amanda Anisimova win a Grand Slam title in 2026?
She argued: “I love the direction the players are going in when it comes to the social environment and easing that tension when we are off the court.
“I would say it’s a great environment now: we socialise, we talk. But when I first came onto the tour, it was still a bit tense.
“There were a few players I talked to who made me feel seen and involved, but it was definitely very interesting, especially coming from the juniors.
“I love the older players who treat the new ones coming on with respect and make them feel welcome, because it is kind of scary when you are entering a new career.
“I’d say more of the top players have normalised that. Aryna [Sabalenka] is doing a great job of that, being very social and welcoming with a lot of the players.”
Sam Querrey has predicted Anisimova to overtake Sabalenka in the world rankings this year and become the WTA’s top-ranked player. She is still some distance from ratifying his argument.
Amanda Anisimova’s head-to-head record with Aryna Sabalenka
For all their respect away from the court, on it, Anisimova and Sabalenka are the fiercest of rivals.
And, over the last year or so, they have engaged in some of their greatest battles yet.
Despite the gulf in their respective rankings, with the American currently sitting five places below the world number one, it’s actually Anisimova who leads their head-to-head, having won six of their 11 meetings.
Who will win the women’s Wimbledon title this year?
Vote now!
Most recently, Sabalenka edged the 24-year-old in the semi-finals of the WTA Finals across three hard-fought sets.
Before that, it was again the Belarusian who tasted victory, beating Anisimova in the US Open final.
However, the roles were reversed in the Wimbledon semi-finals, as Anisimova won arguably their most enthralling clash yet.
