Amanda Anisimova’s US Open campaign has ended in familiar, excruciating fashion.
The young American, one of the bright stars on the WTA Tour, has now lost back-to-back Grand Slam finals following her loss to Aryna Sabalenka in the US Open final on Saturday evening.
The 24-year-old battled hard, showcasing her unbelievably powerful groundstrokes, before ultimately falling 3-6 6-7 to a resilient Sabalenka.
However, all hope is not lost for Anisimova. She has enjoyed an extremely productive season on the WTA Tour, rising to world number four while defeating the likes of Iga Swiatek and Aryna Sabalenka along the way.
Despite her success, she has so far failed to navigate her way over the final Grand Slam hurdle, and one coach has suggested what she can do to correct this.
Rick Macci says Amanda Anisimova will win multiple Grand Slams if her mindset becomes ‘like granite’
Rick Macci is an extremely well-recognised coach and an authority on all things tennis due to his long history as a coach in the sport.
Macci’s role in the early on-court development of the Williams sisters is undeniable, and he has gone on to coach both Maria Sharapova and Andy Roddick.
The American stalwart understands the game like few do, and he has offered his advice to Amanda Anisimova following her US Open final loss.
On X [Twitter], Macci said: “Anisimova [is] now number four in the world. Finals [of the] last two Slams.
“She is one of the best ball strikers on the planet and will win a bucket of Slams if her mindset on every point becomes like granite.”
Macci’s take on Anisimova certainly holds weight. Throughout the US Open final, Anisimova was seen gesticulating to her box when a point did not go her way.
Of course, emotion can be a helpful release on the court, enabling a player to break free of any frustration and return to a more neutral state of mind.
However, as Macci argues, a greater sense of composure on the court could benefit Anisimova in the long run. If she can form a granite-like mindset, the American could avoid having too many dips in form during her matches, resulting in more consistent play.
Anisimova is a strong contender for the 2026 Australian Open title
Although there is a chance Amanda Anisimova will not appreciate this being said, she will undoubtedly be a strong contender for the Australian Open title.
Anisimova’s style of play is made for the hard courts: her flat, powerful groundstrokes and ferocious serve all suit the fast speed of the surface.
She has also cemented herself as a player who can beat anyone, demonstrated by her victories over Aryna Sabalenka and Iga Swiatek in 2025.
Many players at the top of the rankings are able to defeat those below them over and over, but can never overcome those above them.
This is not the case for Anisimova, and this factor will serve her well moving forward.
