Melbourne ¨C A pumped-up Amanda Anisimova said Friday she will use expectation as motivation at the Australian Open after a breakthrough 2025 saw her make back-to-back Grand Slam finals.
The American was named the WTA¡¯s most improved player last season, jumping 32 spots to her current ranking of No. 4, a climb driven by powering into the Wimbledon and U.S. Open deciders.
She was crushed 6-0, 6-0 at the All England Club by Iga Swiatek, but showed grit by bouncing back to beat the Polish six-time Grand Slam winner in the quarterfinals at Flushing Meadows.
Anisimova then took down Naomi Osaka in the semifinals before pushing world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka hard in the final before losing 6-3, 7-6 (7-3).
¡°I¡¯m coming off of a great year,¡± the 24-year-old said. ¡°A lot of confidence.
¡°I had a lot of great experiences last year, I played a lot of matches. Learned a lot about myself, and things that I want to improve.
¡°Going into this year I¡¯m just thinking about how I can get that extra edge, improve as an athlete. There are expectations, but I use them as motivation.¡±
After her first career appearance at the WTA Finals, Anisimova had a short offseason at home in Miami before starting her year at the Brisbane International last week, losing in the round of 16.
She said her deep runs at Wimbledon and the U.S. Open would prove invaluable as she attempts to make it three Grand Slam finals in a row.
¡°Just being in those positions for the first time, I think the second time around is always going to be a little easier,¡± she said.
¡°At least I have been in those spots that I kind of know what to expect.
¡°At the same time it¡¯s a new Grand Slam. I¡¯m just really taking it one match at a time.¡±
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