Amanda Anisimova has not had the start to her 2026 season that she would have hoped for.
After recording the best campaign of her career in 2025, so far this year the American has won just five matches and lost three across a treble of tournaments.
She kicked off her season with a second-round exit at the Brisbane International before entering the Australian Open, where she made it to the quarterfinals.
Anisimova lost to compatriot Jessica Pegula at Melbourne Park and failed to bounce back at the Qatar Open, where she was knocked out in her opening match.
Despite the poor start to 2026, the 24-year-old said she is feeling much less pressure ahead of her run at the Dubai Tennis Championships.
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Amanda Anisimova speaks ahead of her campaign in Dubai
In her pre-tournament press conference, Anisimova said: “I feel like I’m actually feeling a lot less pressure and stress than when I compare it to Australia.
“I feel like I was able to reflect and kind of reset my goals, focus more on the process. I feel a lot better now that I have kind of let go of a lot of that stuff.
“I’ve just redirected things that I’m paying my attention to and putting my energy into. I feel good.
“However, I do, I know what I’m going to try and do, do my best at it. At the end of the day, that’s all I can really do.”
Anisimova is making her sixth appearance in Dubai, where her best result is second-round finish.
Amanda Anisimova discusses her Grand Slam chances
Discussing her desire to win a maiden Grand Slam title, Anisimova said: “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.
“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.”
Anisimova reached back-to-back Grand Slam finals last year at Wimbledon and the US Open.
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