For a player who came agonizingly close to tennis immortality just a season ago, 2026 has begun on a quieter note for Amanda Anisimova. The 24-year-old American enjoyed the best campaign of her career in 2025, reaching the finals at both the Wimbledon Championships and the US Open - yet the elusive maiden Major title still slipped away.

Her new season hasn’t quite matched that momentum either. Anisimova opened with a second-round exit at the Brisbane International, followed by a respectable quarterfinal run at the Australian Open, where she fell to compatriot Jessica Pegula. A first-round loss at the Qatar Open further underlined an inconsistent start - just five wins against three defeats across her opening stretch. Yet if results haven’t fully clicked, her ambition certainly hasn’t faded.

Despite the uneven beginning, Amanda Anisimova insists the ultimate target remains crystal clear - lifting a Grand Slam trophy. “I mean, I’d say that’s a common goal I think we all share, is to win a Grand Slam. I’m doing everything I can in my capacity to try and get there, to try and achieve my goals,” she said in an interview in Dubai.

Anisimova further added, “But I’d say it’s obviously a process. You have to really try to tie in all the things together. I feel like I’m really trying to figure out everything I need to do to give myself the best possible chance. But I think I’m more focused on just the overall process of getting there instead of the outcome. Hopefully, one day I can achieve it.”

Her words reveal a shift seen in many late-blooming champions - patience over urgency. Rather than chasing the trophy itself, she is building the habits required to eventually earn it.

Interestingly, several respected voices in tennis believe that a breakthrough may arrive sooner rather than later. Once, the former American pro Sam Querrey, while speaking on The Tennis Worthy Podcast, suggested Anisimova could even dominate the season and finish as world No. 1. He wasn’t alone either. Seven-time major champion John McEnroe backed the prediction emphatically. “I think she wins a major this year,” McEnroe said. “I think she does too,” Querrey agreed.

The belief in Anisimova stretches beyond American analysts. After watching her 2025 performances, 2013 Wimbledon winner Marion Bartoli confidently stated she would win a Grand Slam “without a doubt.” 

Meanwhile, Aussie legend Pat Cash insisted her heavy loss in the Wimbledon final would not define her career - only motivate her return to future championship matches. That final, dominated by Iga Swiatek, may have lasted under an hour, but in the long arc of a career, veterans believe it’s simply part of a champion’s learning curve.

Amanda Anisimova’s early-season results may look modest on paper, but history suggests players often need time to transform finalist experience into title-winning composure. With elite endorsements and a mindset focused on process over pressure, the American appears to be laying foundations rather than chasing quick validation.

If the experts are right, the question may not be whether she wins a Grand Slam - but when.

Amid all these, Anisimova has now effortlessly made it to the R16 of the 2026 Dubai Tennis Championships. 

Amanda Anisimova moves into the next round after Barbora Krejčíková’s withdrawal in Dubai

The draw opened up unexpectedly for Amanda Anisimova at the Dubai Tennis Championships. The American advanced straight into the Round of 16 after Barbora Krejčíková withdrew from their scheduled clash due to a left-thigh issue, handing the second seed a walkover at the WTA 1000 event.

Instead of battling through an early-round contest, Anisimova will now prepare directly for a last-16 meeting against rising star Janice Tjen - without having to swing her racquet in the opening round.

Ahead of the tournament, Anisimova revealed she arrived in Dubai with a noticeably calmer outlook compared to the start of the season in Australia. The American admitted she has consciously shifted her perspective and expectations.

“I feel like I’m actually feeling a lot less pressure and stress than when I compare it to Australia,” she said in her pre-tournament press conference. “I was able to reflect and kind of reset my goals, focus more on the process.”

She explained that the change isn’t technical - it’s mental. “I’ve just redirected things that I’m paying my attention to and putting my energy into. I feel good. At the end of the day, I know what I’m going to try and do - do my best at it. That’s all I can really do.”

The mindset shift comes at an important time in her season, as she looks to build consistency rather than chase immediate results. This marks Anisimova’s sixth appearance in Dubai, a tournament where she has historically struggled to go deep - her best result being a second-round finish.

The walkover now offers her a valuable advantage: Extra recovery time and also a chance to adapt to conditions gradually. However, it also presents a different challenge - entering a high-stakes match without a competitive rhythm. Players often talk about needing matches to find timing, something she’ll need to establish against Tjen quickly. Do you think Amanda Anisimova can beat Tjen in her next match, though?

Written by

Sayantan Roy

Sayantan Roy is a seasoned tennis journalist at EssentiallyTennis. 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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