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Opinion

America have another WTA star who can rival Coco Gauff and Madison Keys for future Grand Slam titles after reaching career-high rank

Photo by Noushad Thekkayil/NurPhoto via Getty Images
Photo by Noushad Thekkayil/NurPhoto via Getty Images
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American women suffered a Grand Slam title drought in 2024, but Madison Keys quickly put an end to that at the 2025 Australian Open.

Keys beat Aryna Sabalenka and Iga Swiatek to win the Australian Open last month, capturing her maiden Grand Slam title.

Coco Gauff was the most recent American female Grand Slam champion before Keys, having won the 2023 US Open.

The pair are now both one-time Grand Slam champions, but now have a great chance to double their tally in the 2025 major season.

They will, however, undoubtedly find fierce challenges along the way, particularly in the form of the likes of Sabalenka and Swiatek.

2025 Australian Open - Day 14
Photo by Andy Cheung/Getty Images

Amanda Anisimova capable of Grand Slam win after Qatar Open title

Three-time Grand Slam champion Sabalenka won two major titles in 2024, with five-time champion Iga Swiatek also triumphant last time out.

But there is another WTA star who could threaten to outshine her fellow Americans, with Amanda Anisimova slowly but surely getting back to her very best.

READ MORE: Coco Gauff states all she has to say on Jannik Sinner’s three-month ban from tennis

Anisimova has just clinched her highest-level title, with the 23-year-old beating Jelena Ostapenko in the Qatar Open final.

The American triumphed at the WTA 1000 event with a 6-4, 6-3 win, securing her third WTA Tour-level title.

Anisimova beat six top 40 opponents en route to her Qatar Open crown, which follows her successes at Melbourne in 2022 and Bogota in 2019.

Amanda Anisimova makes WTA top 20 debut after Qatar Open win

Anisimova was ranked 41st in the world before her title in Doha, with 21st place having represented her career-high.

That has, however, now changed, with the American rising a huge 23 places to 18th, representing a top 20 debut.

READ MORE: WTA superstar confirms she wants to play in US Open mixed doubles this year and says she will β€˜definitely’ have a good partner

It is a hugely impressive feat given the long list of talent on the WTA Tour, and also with Anisimova having not long ago taken an extended break from the sport.

But she has now reached the finals in two of her past four 1000 tournaments, signalling real promise ahead of the likes of the French Open and Wimbledon.

Amanda Anisimova celebrates with the Qatar Open title in 2025
Photo by Noushad Thekkayil/NurPhoto via Getty Images

Such promise was on display at a very early age, with a 16-year-old Anisimova having won the 2017 US Open Juniors, beating none other than Gauff in the final, who was only 13 at the time.

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Australian OpenN/AN/A4R1RN/A4R1R4R2R
French Open1RN/ASF3R1R4RN/A2R–
WimbledonN/AN/A2RN/A1RQFN/AN/A–
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Amanda Anisimova career Grand Slam record

Gauff is certain to challenge for the remaining Grand Slams this season, as are fellow Americans Keys, Jessica Pegula and Emma Navarro, but Anisimova definitely has what it takes to give them a real scare.

She is clearly a hugely popular figure on the WTA Tour, which cannot be said for every player, with Paula Badosa congratulating Anisimova on her success in Doha.