Amanda Anisimova is now two wins away from a third WTA 1000 title after reaching the semifinals at the Dubai Tennis Championships.
The American came back from a set down to defeat Mirra Andreeva in the final four, winning 2-6, 7-5, 7-6, ending the Russian’s title defence.
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Anisimova will take on compatriot Jessica Pegula next, whom she has never managed to beat before at a tour-level event.
Pegula leads 4-0 in the head-to-head, with her last victory coming in the quarterfinals of the Australian Open.
After her defeat, Andreeva burst into tears, which Anisimova commented on during her post-match interview.
Amanda Anisimova reacts to her win over Mirra Andreeva in Dubai
Speaking on-court, Anisimova said: “I was almost in tears there at the end. It was such a tough battle, and I thought we played incredible tennis.
“Seeing Mirra down like that, I mean, it’s understandable. We both fought so hard today, and yeah, it made me emotional seeing her like that.
“I mean, she was playing so well. She’s a defending champion. And I feel like we both won on the court today.
“I feel like these types of matches, it’s always tough that someone has to lose at the end of the day. But yeah, I feel like we both played great and really happy to be through to the next round.
“I mean, we had a lot of long points. I feel like that’s always going to happen when you’re playing against Mirra. She’s such a great athlete, and yeah, I really had to dig deep. It really wasn’t easy.
“I feel like I’m always learning when I play matches like that, and I’m expanding my game. And it’s something that I feel like I really want to get better at. And I think that I did it really well today.”
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Amanda Anisimova previews her clash with Jessica Pegula
Anisimova took a moment to preview her upcoming semifinal bout with Pegula after the win.
She said: “I think I play against Jess tomorrow, so another great fight and hopefully, we’ll have a good match. I mean, she’s a great player, so really looking forward to it.
“It’s always exciting to play against another American. We just played, so it’s tough. But yeah, I mean, she’s always bringing her best. And I feel like we always have great matches. So yeah, looking forward to it.”
Pegula defeated Anisimova in straight sets at the Australian Open, winning 6-2, 7-6 in the quarterfinals.
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