Amanda Anisimova qualified for the WTA Finals last four after defeating Iga Swiatek on Thursday.
The American has burst onto the tennis scene this year, quickly establishing herself as a household name within the tennis community.
Although the world number four has not won a Grand Slam title this year, she has impressed throughout.
Aside from her top-class backhand and excellent serve, Anisimova has demonstrated maturity beyond her years during moments of heartbreak.
She has become a force to be reckoned with on the WTA Tour, and deserves great credit for the meteoric rise she has engineered in 2025.
Amanda Anisimova has been the most resilient player on the WTA Tour in 2025
Amanda Anisimova made her big breakthrough at Wimbledon this year, defeating world number one Aryna Sabalenka on her way to the final.
However, her hopes of winning the Wimbledon title came crashing down, as she was brutally dispatched by Iga Swiatek in the final, losing the contest 0-6, 0-6.
Anisimova deserves great credit for the way she responded to this loss; she did not shy away from the challenge. Instead, she rose to the occasion.
Two months later, Anisimova found herself in the US Open quarter-finals, facing the daunting prospect of playing Iga Swiatek once again.
Anisimova appeared unfazed by her Wimbledon loss to Swiatek, defeating the Pole 6-4, 6-3 under the bright lights of Arthur Ashe Stadium.
The American reached the final, losing to Aryna Sabalenka in straight sets.
Again, Anisimova could have wilted under the pressure. Instead, she stood tall.
The very next week, she won her second WTA 1000 title of the year at the China Open. Just over a month later, she finds herself in the WTA Finals last four for the first time after defeating Swiatek once again.
It has truly been an impressive season. Anisimova has demonstrated more resilience than any other player on the WTA Tour this year, and consequently, is deserving of any plaudits that come her way.
What did Amanda Anisimova say about her ‘goal’ of qualifying for the WTA Finals?
It was a goal of mine at the start of the year,” Anisimova said during her post-match press conference after losing the 2025 US Open Ladies’ Singles final.
“Me and my agent were joking that that would be a goal of mine and it was kind of far in the reach when I was starting off the year, but now I have a chance to qualify and play in it so, that’s really special, but it’s really hard to look at the fall and think about that right now because today was a pretty hard loss to take.”
Anisimova qualified for the WTA Finals for the first time after defeating Jasmine Paolini in the China Open quarter-finals.
The American, who qualified second in her WTA Finals group, will face Aryna Sabalenka in the last four.
