The United States has produced some fine tennis players over the years.
The likes of Chris Evert, Martina Navratilova, Venus and Serena Williams are some of the names that come to mind.
In the current game, four American women are ranked inside the top 10, including Coco Gauff and Amanda Anisimova.
Both players are carving impressive careers for themselves, but eight years ago they gave fans a glimpse into the future when they squared off in the US Open junior final.
Amanda Anisimova beat Coco Gauff in the 2017 US Open junior final
Gauff and Anisimova are now two of the world’s best players, and they showed their talent for the game as junior players.
In 2017, the year Sloane Stephens beat Madison Keys to win the US Open women’s singles title, and the girls junior final featured two future stars in Gauff and Anisimova.
Gauff was just 13 and Anisimova was aged 15 when they battled for the championship title in New York. For the first time since 1981, the women’s and girls finals all featured American players.
Anisimova was in scintillating form as she dispatched Gauff for the loss of just two games to take the title.
She showed signs of the power and aggression that took her to the top 10 and a Wimbledon final, and Gauff had no answer for her brilliance.
The 21-year-old has made great strides since that final. She has won two Grand Slams and ascended to number two in the world.
Anisimova also claimed her first WTA 1000 title at the 2025 Qatar Open. Both players are fulfilling the promise they showed at junior level and on the professional circuit, and the future continues to look bright for Anisimova and Gauff.
What is Coco Gauff and Amanda Anisimova’s head-to-head record?
Gauff and Anisimova have played two matches against each other on the WTA Tour.
Their first meeting came on the clay in Parma back in 2021, and the match ended in straight sets.
Gauff dropped just six games in a 6-3, 6-3 victory, but her compatriot would gain some revenge the following year.
Gauff took on Anisimova for the second time in the third round of the 2022 Wimbledon Championships.
She made a bright start by taking the opening set on a tiebreak, but Anisimova went into overdrive from that point forward.
She lost just three more games for the rest of the match and completed a 6-7, 6-2, 6-1 victory to reach the last 16 at the All-England Club.
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