In the bright lights of the WTA Finals stage, where every point tests the strength of a champion’s heart, Amanda Anisimova stood tall and delivered yet another moment of clarity in her season-long resurgence. Against the powerful and experienced Madison Keys, Anisimova fought through nerves, momentum swings, and the weight of expectations to claim a gritty victory—one that wasn’t just about progress but about belonging. This wasn’t simply a win; it was a statement!

Every great comeback story has its defining checkpoints—and Anisimova has been marking them one by one throughout 2025. The 23-year-old entered this season searching for stability and identity on the court. But with each match, she has rediscovered her purpose, her timing, and most importantly, her belief. Currently ranked fourth in the world, Anisimova has won two titles. 

Despite losing two consecutive Grand Slam finals to Iga Swiatek (Wimbledon) and Aryna Sabalenka (US Open), we saw tennis legends like Sam Querrey, Steve Johnson, and a few others claiming that Anisimova has the potential to defeat top players like Sabalenka, Swiatek, and Gauff within the next year and become the world number one. While John Isner claimed, “Sometimes I watch her play and think she is the best player in the world… There is a lot of times when I’m watching her in the last few months where the eye test tells me that she is number one.” Amid all these speculations of Amanda Anisimova becoming the world number one in the near future, she has added yet another feather to her cap. Anisimova has won 44 out of her 60 WTA main draw matches in 2025, and guess what? Only three players have managed more wins from their first sixty matches of the season: Sabalenka (50), Swiatek (48), and Gauff (46).

For a player who has weathered emotional tolls, taken time away from the sport, and fought her way back to elite form, this moment is more than a statistic—it’s a validation. The WTA Finals are where champions evolve, where great seasons can become legacy-defining. And with this victory against Keys, Anisimova has signaled that she’s not just enjoying a good year; she’s rebuilding a formidable career brick by brick, win by win.

Despite going down in the first game by 4-6, Amanda Anisimova pulled back in style to wrap up the match by 4-6, 6-3, 6-2. This was her first win at the WTA Finals and her ninth against the Top 10 in 2025. She’s now the only player to beat all four 2025 Grand Slam women’s champions this year. What did Anisimova say after this epic all-American duel?

Amanda Anisimova says Madison Keys pushed her to the limit

This was her first meeting with the 2025 AO champion, Madison Keys. Before entering this match, we saw Keys heaping praise on her 24-year-old compatriot by admitting she isn’t surprised with Anisimova’s rapid rise because she is so good. “I think we all saw that. I think the biggest thing is that to kind of think of how great she was as young as she was, then she took a break. Now still she’s so young, which she keeps reminding me of. It’s incredible that she's been able to do that,” Keys added. She revealed that she was most impressed with how Anisimova managed to make a comeback after her 0-6, 0-6 loss to Iga Swiatek in the Wimbledon final.

Following all these praises, Madison Keys stepped onto the courts to challenge, disrupt, and demand answers from one of the most in-form players of the season. And in this match, as the rallies stretched longer and the pressure points mounted, Anisimova found herself in unfamiliar territory—digging deeper than she expected. Key’s explosive pace on both wings kept Anisimova pinned to the baseline, scrambling, defending, and counter-punching with urgency. And when the dust settled, the youngster had her victory—but she also had something else: respect.

During her on-court interview, Amanda Anisimova said, “I feel like every time I come out here, my opponent is playing crazy tennis. It’s been a difficult few matches, and today, for sure, Maddy was playing so well, and it was quite a battle out there. Just really happy with the way I was able to turn around in the second set, kind of turned that frown upside down.”

All four players in the Serena Williams group have now completed two round-robin matches. With her two consecutive victories against Anisimova and Swiatek, Elena Rybakina has now moved into the semis. On the other side, Madison Keys’ two consecutive defeats have confirmed her exit from the tournament. But can Anisimova keep the American hopes alive from this group with a win against Iga Swiatek in her next match?

Well, talking about predictions, last month during an interview, Australian Billie Jean King Cup coach Nicole Pratt stated, “She (Anisimova) has to be a favorite for the WTA Finals now in my opinion, especially with the conditions.” However, according to former pro and Sky Sports pundit Laura Robson, it’s really difficult to look past the defending champion (Coco Gauff), as the courts will favor the two-time Grand Slam winner.

It’ll be interesting to see who keeps the American flag flying high in this tournament. But while sharing her thoughts about her previous match in an interview with Sky Sports, we saw Amanda Anisimova claiming that she got things a bit wrong at the start of that match and also admitted that she needs to make some tweaks. Against Swiatek, even a slight wrong foot can cost her the spot in the SF. So, this is really going to be an interesting battle, and Anisimova will be keen to start this match on a positive note. Who’s your pick in this nail-biting clash?

Written by

Sayantan Roy

Sayantan Roy is a seasoned tennis journalist at EssentiallySports. He brings a deep tactical understanding to his coverage, breaking down head-to-head records, match dynamics, and on-court strategies with precision. For more than two years, Sayantan has been a key member of the Live Events desk, delivering real-time insights and data-backed predictions for the platform’s Matchday Preview section. His analytical approach has sparked editorial debates and drawn recognition from respected tennis voices, including commentator and analyst Olly_Tennis. Combining his experience in writing with a passion for insightful sports journalism, Sayantan’s work serves as a trusted reference point for tennis fans around the world.

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Edited by

Shrabana Sengupta