Various WTA players have enjoyed impressive seasons on the WTA Tour.
Youngsters Iva Jovic, Alexandra Eala and Maya Joint all shot up the rankings this year after winning their first WTA titles, while Victoria Mboko produced one of the stories of the century by winning the Canadian Open.
At the top of the tree, Madison Keys, Coco Gauff, Iga Swiatek and Aryna Sabalenka have all enjoyed success this year, having each won a Grand Slam title.
However, there is another player who has improved far beyond anyone’s expectations.
That player is Amanda Anisimova.
Sam Querrey and Jack Sock pick Amanda Anisimova as the most improved WTA player of 2025
The hosts of the Nothing Major podcast are in total agreement over the most improved WTA player of 2025.
Jack Sock, Sam Querrey and Steve Johnson have all chosen American star Amanda Anisimova.
Sock, the former world number eight, began the discussion by saying: “I am going to go with Anisimova. I think sometimes people think most improved is how many ranking spots did you move up. And somebody who is ranked 100 and now is ranked higher.
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“I am more results-based on this and judge it on most improved in big moments or breaking through big in a tournament.
“I think that’s Amanda, just showing her level all year, but being in those big moments and playing in the weekends of Grand Slams. Winning big titles outside of that. And solidifying her spot in the top 10 and as one of the best players in the world.
“And then backing it up for multiple weeks, not just a breakout week and then iffy results after that. So I think Amanda is most improved for me.”
Sam Querrey, the former world number nine, agreed with his compatriot’s take.
He said: “It is Anisimova. I think it’s almost harder to go from 15 to four in the world than it is from 75 to 15. Two Slam majors, she crushed it. So for me it’s her.”
Steve Johnson, a winner of four ATP Tour titles, also chose Anisimova.
“It’s three out of three,” he said.
“It is amazing what Amanda has accomplished since coming back from tennis and everything she has dealt with over the last four or five years.”
Amanda Anisimova is the right choice
It is hard to look past the American when assessing who has been the most improved player on the WTA Tour this year.
Anisimova has been mightily impressive, reaching two Grand Slam finals and rising to world number four.
The 24-year-old is now a threat to any player: few can match the pace of her groundstrokes, particularly her backhand.
In her last tournament of 2025, the American proved this once again. She defeated Madison Keys and Iga Swiatek before losing in the semi-finals to Aryna Sabalenka.
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The young star has the opportunity to utilise her Grand Slam final heartbreaks for good next year, and she will be a serious contender for the 2026 Australian Open title if she can maintain her 2025 form.
Anisimova has been particularly strong on hard courts over the past year, so she will fancy her chances in Australia.
This year, Anisimova won WTA 1000 titles on hard courts in Qatar and China, while also reaching the US Open final.
