Amanda Anisimova has been attracting a lot of attention after continuing her breakthrough season on the WTA Tour.
Anisimova beat Linda Noskova to win the China Open, which is her second WTA 1000 title of the season, alongside reaching back-to-back Grand Slam finals at Wimbledon and the US Open.
This run to the title nearly didn’t even happen, with Anisimova admitting she was struggling with an injury throughout the tournament.
Anisimova is closing in on becoming American number one, and she has now reacted to what her compatriot Jessica Pegula has been saying about her.
Amanda Anisimova responds to what Jessica Pegula has been saying about her
It was nearly an all-American final at the China Open, but Pegula was beaten by Noskova in the semifinals, despite having three match points.
Although she did not play her compatriot in the final, Anisimova was still asked about Pegula and comments she had made praising her backhand on her podcast.
Anisimova responded by explaining how she takes compliments differently to when she first arrived on the WTA Tour, before revealing that she is actually a big fan of Pegula’s podcast with Madison Keys, Desirae Krawczyk and injured 2021 Australian Open finalist Jennifer Brady.
“Yeah, I feel like now I’m really able to take it like a compliment,” Anisimova said in her press conference. “I feel like I’m playing to my full potential.
“I’m doing all the right things and working really hard as opposed to a few years ago when I felt like I wasn’t competing or performing to my full potential. I used to put those messages or opinions aside and not really take that in.
“But yeah, for sure now it’s really nice to hear other people say that. Of course, I work really hard to get to the point where I am. It’s not easy competing against these girls either. They’re all at the top of the game. Everyone here is really tough to face.
“I really look forward to the challenges that each opponent brings. I feel like every single player has their own strengths. They’re all very tough to face.
“Also I love that podcast. I think I’ve finished all the episodes. I’ve been watching it every night. I feel like I’m on FaceTime when I’m watching it (smiling).”
Pegula was also one of many to congratulate Anisimova on her China Open victory in an Instagram story post.
What is next for Amanda Anisimova?
Despite admitting her physical issues at the China Open, Anisimova suggested that she was still planning to play her same schedule, which includes competing at the Wuhan Open.
Anisimova has never surpassed the second round in her two previous appearances at the Wuhan Open, but as the fourth seed receives an automatic bye to that same stage of the tournament.
With Diana Shnaider already out of the tournament, Anisimova now knows that she will not have to play another seed until at least the quarterfinal, where she could play the aforementioned Pegula.
| Wuhan Open 2025 | Amanda Anisimova’s Potential Opponent |
| First Round | Receives a bye as the fourth seed |
| Second Round | Jessica Bouzas Maneiro/Varvara Gracheva |
| Third Round | Maya Joint/Katerina Siniakova/Lin Zhu |
| Quarterfinal | Jessica Pegula (6)/Ekaterina Alexandrova/Victoria Mboko/Emma Raducanu |
| Semifinal | Aryna Sabalenka (1)/Elena Rybakina (8)/Naomi Osaka (11)/Liudmila Samsonova (16) |
| Final | Iga Swiatek (2)/Coco Gauff (3)/Mirra Andreeva (5)/Jasmine Paolini (7) |
Anisimova has caused issues for Aryna Sabalenka before, and she could play the three-time defending Wuhan Open champion in the semifinals, in what would be their first meeting since the US Open final.
It is likely that Anisimova will begin her Wuhan Open campaign against either Jessica Bouzas Maneiro or Varvara Gracheva on Wednesday, October 8.
Receive exclusive tennis news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
