Tennis can often feel like an intense psychological battle, and Amanda Anisimova exemplifies this with her expressive reactions on the court. In her recent fourth-round match against Wang Xinyu, Anisimova’s visible frustration was notable despite her commanding performance. Throughout the match, she never seemed genuinely threatened, yet her inability to secure a decisive lead early in the first set added to her emotional struggle.
From the outset, it was clear that Anisimova possessed superior skills, particularly when serving. Many rallies concluded quickly, especially on her serves, highlighting her prominent ball-striking ability that can captivate fans in highlight reels. However, inconsistency at times made her appear as though she was battling against her performance rather than her opponent, showcasing her human side rather than a robotic precision.
Wang, while clearly outmatched, attempted to leverage her own serve to alleviate pressure, which proved to be Anisimova’s primary source of frustration. Anisimova’s serves went unreturned 40 percent of the time, yet Wang still managed a striking 35 percent of her serves unreturned, a statistic that highlights the rarity of such percentages in women’s tennis. This scenario contributed to Anisimova’s growing frustration, particularly as she made errors amidst her rising tension. Commentary from Rennae Stubbs suggested that Anisimova’s team might consider a “finish” keyword to help her focus on her returns and eliminate those long balls that cost her.
Eventually, after an elongated battle of wills, Anisimova managed to break through with a couple of pivotal backhand winners. Although Wang countered by breaking back, her movement suffered due to a medical timeout, and Anisimova ultimately prevailed, even if her emotions throughout hinted at internal conflicts. By the end, she showcased a smile, masking any prior concerns.
The idea of the game resting on a player’s racket is particularly relevant when discussing Anisimova. At times, her emotional state and performance can cause her to appear disconnected, but she has demonstrated the capacity to regain her form and secure victories, reflecting the balancing act that elite players face in competition. Anisimova’s dynamic style can often feel like both a privilege and a burden, adding to her complexity as a player.
Her upcoming match against Jessica Pegula will be an intriguing test, given Pegula’s current 3-0 lead in their head-to-head encounters and her consistent ranking in the WTA top 10. This clash promises to reveal whether Anisimova can maintain her composure and overcome both her opponent and her own turbulent emotions on the court, adding yet another layer of intrigue to her evolving career.