Follow us on Google Discover It’s been quite the year for Amanda Anisimova, with her meteoric rise up the world rankings a testament to her determination and drive.
Anisimova thrashed Coco Gauff on her way to the China Open title last week – a win that saw her claim a second WTA 1000 title of 2025.
Anisimova provided a fitness update after her win over Linda Noskova in the final last week, and ultimately, she didn’t recover in time to take her place at the Wuhan Open.
Although Anisimova had praise for Noskova after beating her, it’s the American who is the toast of tennis in the United States right now.
Photo by Shi Tang/Getty ImagesPam Shriver makes astonishing claim about Amanda Anisimova
Rewind 12 months ago, and Anisimova was ranked in 43rd place on the list of WTA stars.
With that in mind, it’s quite something that she’s been able to showcase her steely determination and not only rise through the rankings but also start winning some silverware.
Anisimova has made some mistakes in recent months, but it’s fair to say that reaching two Grand Slam finals and winning a WTA 1000 event is pretty impressive.
Shriver reached the final of the US Open in 1978 and she believes Anisimova has one of the best shots that the women’s game has ever seen.
She said on the Inside-in podcast: “”This is really outsanding what she’s been able to do this year, I found it fascinating four years on from Emma Raducanu needing to retire at Wimbledon in the round of 16 for seemingly suffering from like a panic attack and she couldn’t go back out and then the next major later she comes through qualifying to win 10 straight matches and win the US Open.
“Then fast forward four years later we have a player in Amanda Anisimova who reaches her first major final, lose 6-0, 6-0, it’s happened one other time at Roland Garros, and then to come back and beat the player who has just beat her in the quarters which Anisimova did and play Sabalenka in the final, that was just incredible mentally and it just shows you the skills and the tools that Anisimova has developed to be mentally tough to go with the physical tools to take on the court too, I mean, I think she’s maybe got the best two handed backhand that the women’s game has ever seen.
“Her forehand has improved. I’m not sure that it will ever catch up with the backhand, but it doesn’t need to. She can really lean on the serve, and I think Anisimova should look towards what Maria Sharapova did sort of 20 years ago, which was looking to be relentless in pursuit of better footwork and better agility. That was something that she worked on every day, and Sharapova referenced it in her Hall of Fame speech.”
Statistics confirm that Anisimova has a backhand to die for
Shriver is right when it comes to the backhand that Anisimova possesses, and boy, does the WTA Tour know about it this season.
The 24-year-old is red hot when it comes to winning points on her backhand, and clearly, the power she has at her disposal is the envy of the tour.
RankPlayerBackhand Winner %1Amanda Anismova20.3%2Sofia Kenin19%3Jelena Ostapenko18.6%4Aryna Sabalenka17.4%5Madison Keys16.3%Percentage of points won using a backhand winner on the WTA Tour in 2025
Anisimova does still have some flaws, but her rise up the ranks this year should help her settle into tournaments with easier draws, and surely there will be more Grand Slam final appearances in the near future.
It’s always nice to see someone bounce back from adversity, and Anisimova has quickly become one of the most likeable and relatable players on the tour in the eyes of the supporters across the globe.