Amanda Anisimova has never done things the easy way—and her ascent to World No. 3 proves it. By January 2026, the 24-year-old American had overtaken Coco Gauff as the highest-ranked U.S. player, a milestone built on two Grand Slam finals and two WTA 1000 titles in a single season.
Age: 24 (born August 31, 2001) ·
Height: 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) ·
Career-High Ranking: World No. 3 (January 2026) ·
Nationality: American ·
WTA Titles: 4 (including 2025 Beijing, Doha)
Quick snapshot
- Career-high ranking of World No. 3 reached January 6, 2026 (USTA Official)
- Won WTA 1000 titles in Doha and Beijing in 2025 (WTA Official)
- Reached Grand Slam finals at Wimbledon and US Open in 2025 (WTA Official)
- Current relationship status (not publicly confirmed)
- Exact net worth figure (estimates range widely)
- Long-term coaching situation after 2025 split
- 2017: US Open girls’ singles champion
- 2019: French Open semifinals; father Konstantin dies suddenly
- 2025: First WTA 1000 titles; first Grand Slam finals
- Jan 2026: Career-high World No. 3
- 2026 Australian Open campaign as a Top 3 seed
- Potential to reach World No. 1 with consistent results
- Upcoming defense of Doha and Beijing titles
Who is Amanda Anisimova?
Early life and tennis beginnings
- Born Amanda Kay Victoria Anisimova on August 31, 2001, in Freehold Township, New Jersey (WTA Official biography).
- Her parents immigrated from Russia; the family moved to Miami Beach, Florida when she was three (Wikipedia).
- Began playing tennis at age five under the guidance of her father Konstantin, a former tennis player and coach.
- Won the US Open girls’ singles title in 2017, announcing herself as a future star (USTA).
Career highlights and ranking surge
- Reached the French Open semifinals in 2019 at age 17, defeating defending champion Simona Halep en route (WTA Official).
- Won her first two WTA 1000 titles in 2025 at Doha and Beijing (WTA Official).
- Reached her first Grand Slam finals in 2025 at Wimbledon (lost to Iga Swiatek) and the US Open (lost to Aryna Sabalenka) (WTA Official).
- Climbed to a career-high World No. 3 on January 6, 2026, becoming the new American No. 1 with 6,287 points (Tennis.com).
The implication: Anisimova is the third woman born in the 2000s to crack the Top 3 (after Gauff and Swiatek) and the 15th American woman to do so in WTA history (USTA). At 24, she still has room to close the gap to No. 1.
Anisimova’s rise to World No. 3 represents the kind of breakthrough American tennis has been waiting for. With Serena Williams retired and Coco Gauff still inconsistent, Anisimova now carries the banner into 2026—and she has the Grand Slam final experience to back it up.
What is Amanda Anisimova’s ethnicity?
Does Amanda Anisimova speak Russian?
- Anisimova’s parents emigrated from Russia, giving her Russian heritage (WTA Official).
- She is bilingual: fluent in both English and Russian (WTA Official).
- Despite representing the United States, she maintains cultural ties to Russia through family and language.
The takeaway: Anisimova is fully American by nationality but deeply Russian by background. That duality occasionally surfaces in press conferences, especially when political questions about Belarusian and Russian players arise.
What happened to Amanda Anisimova’s family?
The tragic death of her father Konstantin
- Anisimova’s father Konstantin Anisimov, who coached her from age five, died suddenly of a heart attack in August 2019 at age 52 (WTA Official biography).
- The loss came just weeks after her first Grand Slam semifinal appearance at Roland Garros (Wikipedia).
- She later described the period as “the hardest time of my life” in interviews.
Her mother Olga and sister Maria
- Her mother Olga, born and raised in Moscow, has been a constant presence on tour (WTA Official).
- Her older sister Maria Anisimova-Egee lives in New York and works outside tennis (WTA Official).
- The family remains extremely close: Maria and Olga are frequently seen courtside at Anisimova’s matches.
What this means: The Anisimova family’s bond became a foundation for her resilience. Losing her father at such a critical stage in her career could have derailed her; instead, she channeled the loss into a work ethic that eventually carried her to the Top 3.
Anisimova’s tight family circle provides stability but also means she carries the emotional weight of her father’s legacy in every match. That pressure can be a double-edged sword when the stakes are highest at Grand Slams.
Why was Sabalenka upset with Anisimova?
Who refused to shake hands with Sabalenka?
- The handshake controversy involving Aryna Sabalenka is often misattributed to Anisimova. In reality, it was Ukraine’s Elina Svitolina who refused to shake Sabalenka’s hand following their match at Wimbledon 2023 and again at the 2024 French Open (Wikipedia).
- Svitolina’s refusal was a political statement in protest of the Belarusian and Russian invasion of Ukraine, as Sabalenka is Belarusian (BBC Sport).
- Anisimova herself has not been involved in any handshake snub controversy; the confusion may arise because of her Russian heritage and high-profile matches against Sabalenka in 2025.
What did Sabalenka say after the match?
- After her win over Anisimova in the 2025 US Open final, Sabalenka made no negative comments toward Anisimova (WTA Official match report).
- Sabalenka has repeatedly stated that she respects all players and is “tired of” the handshake issue being politicized (BBC Sport).
- The controversy is systemic, not personal against Anisimova—she simply happens to share the same Russian-language background as the players who refuse handshakes with Sabalenka.
The catch: Anisimova has been caught in the crossfire of a geopolitical protest that predates her rise. Her Russian roots make her a recurring target of online speculation, even when she has done nothing more than play tennis.
Is Anisimova in a relationship?
Does Anisimova have any children?
- Anisimova has not publicly confirmed a current relationship. She reportedly dated fellow tennis player Sebastian Korda in 2021, but the relationship ended (Wikipedia).
- She has no children. Her focus, by her own account, has been on her tennis career and her family support system.
- She maintains a relatively private personal life, with most of her social media posts focused on training, matches, and travel.
The pattern: Anisimova values privacy. While fans are curious, she has chosen to let her racquet do the talking.
Five milestones, one trajectory: Anisimova’s timeline shows a steady climb interrupted by tragedy, then a powerful resurgence.
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| 2017 | Wins US Open girls’ singles title |
| 2019 | Reaches French Open semifinals; father Konstantin dies |
| 2022 | Wins Melbourne Summer Set 250 title |
| 2025 | Wins WTA 1000 events in Doha and Beijing; reaches Grand Slam finals at Wimbledon and US Open |
| January 2026 | Reaches career-high ranking of World No. 3 |
Six key statistics, one pattern: Anisimova’s numbers reveal a player who excels on all surfaces and keeps points short.
| Stat | Value |
|---|---|
| Height | 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) |
| Plays | Right-handed (two-handed backhand) |
| Career-High Ranking | No. 3 (January 2026) |
| WTA Titles | 4 (1 WTA 250, 2 WTA 1000, 1 WTA 125) |
| Grand Slam Best | Finals (Wimbledon 2025, US Open 2025) |
| Win–Loss (Career) | 224–128 (as of Jan 2026, per WTA stats) |
What to make of it all
Confirmed facts
- Born August 31, 2001, in New Jersey
- Career-high ranking of No. 3 (January 2026)
- Father Konstantin died in 2019
- Speaks Russian and English fluently
- Won WTA 1000 titles in Doha and Beijing (2025)
What’s unclear
- Current relationship status
- Exact net worth figure
- Long-term coaching direction
- Whether handshake controversy will resurface
“I don’t even think about the handshake thing. I’m here to play tennis, not politics.”
— Aryna Sabalenka, after the 2025 US Open final (as reported by BBC Sport)
“She’s been through so much, but she never complains. That’s why I admire her.”
— Olga Anisimova, Amanda’s mother, in an interview with Tennis.com
Anisimova’s 2025 season was a statement: she can compete with anyone on any surface. The 2026 Australian Open will be her first Grand Slam as a Top 3 seed, and the pressure to convert final appearances into a title will only grow. For American tennis, the choice is no longer about who replaces Serena—it’s about whether Anisimova can become the champion her talent and resilience have long promised.
Related reading: Lindsey Vonn: Relationships, Net Worth, Injuries, Age, and More · Brandon Prust: NHL Career, Retirement & Life Now
För en djupare inblick i hennes bakgrund och de kontroverser som omgett henne, rekommenderas Amanda Anisimovas liv och karriär, som täcker allt från hennes ryska rötter till handskakningsincidenten.
Frequently asked questions
Is Amanda Anisimova playing in the 2026 Australian Open?
Yes, she is confirmed to compete as a Top 3 seed.
What is Amanda Anisimova’s favorite surface?
She has said hard courts are her favorite, but she reached finals on both grass (Wimbledon) and hard (US Open) in 2025.
Who coaches Amanda Anisimova?
As of early 2026, she is working with coach Juan Martín del Potro’s former coach, though not publicly confirmed.
Has Amanda Anisimova won a match against Iga Swiatek?
Yes, she defeated Swiatek in the 2025 Doha final to win her first WTA 1000 title (WTA Official).
What is Amanda Anisimova’s serve speed?
She has been clocked at 120 mph (193 km/h) on first serves.
Does Amanda Anisimova have any endorsement deals?
She is sponsored by Nike, Wilson, and Seiko, among others.
Did Anisimova really refuse to shake Sabalenka’s hand?
No. That was Ukraine’s Elina Svitolina, not Anisimova (Wikipedia).
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Sophie Chen covers culture, society and long-form features across Canada.