CHINA OPEN

October 5, 2025

Amanda Anisimova

Press Conference

A. ANISIMOVA/L. Noskova

6-0, 2-6, 6-2

THE MODERATOR: Amanda, congratulations. Can you put into words your two weeks here.

AMANDA ANISIMOVA: Yeah, I've had an incredible two weeks here. Super excited. Happy to have gotten the title here. It's super special. Yeah, I'm really looking forward to coming back next year. This place really holds special memories for me now.

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. Can you take us through what's it's like to go through New York, get your tooth out, win in Beijing.

AMANDA ANISIMOVA: Yeah, it's been quite a few weeks for me here, for sure. I feel like I've learned a lot about myself. I think, like, I can take a lot of positives and look at it as a lot of progress for me just figuring out ways to face certain challenges and push myself in moments when it feels like I can't go any further. I feel like in that sense I learned that I'm stronger than I think. Yeah, that's a huge win for me. On top of also getting to the final and winning the title is really incredible. I'm really happy about that.

Yeah, I was not expecting to get my wisdom teeth out. I was told that I didn't have to remove them. I was just, like, surprised for me (smiling). Yeah, I'm just glad that's over.

Q. How does this week in Beijing compare to what you were able to do in Doha? How different are those two runs or how similar are they?

AMANDA ANISIMOVA: I think they actually have certain similarities and obviously differences. In Doha, I was just there with my tennis coach and not my full team. In that sense it was a bit different and very unexpected there. Super special week obviously. I'm just really happy that I was able to share this moment with my full team here. Yeah, it's been awesome.

Yeah, I think this week, I don't know, I was riding on a lot of confidence because I've had a great year so far. In Doha, that was my first big win in the beginning of the year. I think they're for sure different.

Yeah, overall just really happy to have started the year off well. To be able to still keep going strong is really great for me.

Q. I think when you won the championship point, you celebrated with your full team. I noticed your coach is the most emotional guy. He almost cried. Did he really cry? How important was this trophy to your full team?

AMANDA ANISIMOVA: Yeah, you should tell him that because he says he's not very emotional. Yeah, we would say otherwise (smiling).

I'm sure he's really happy, as well as everyone else on my team. Some people cry. Some people don't, I guess. Yeah, I mean, it's a huge win for all of us. I think we're just excited to keep going strong.

Yeah, I feel like we're always trying to improve and try and go for more. It's been an incredible year for all of us. Just really happy again to have shared this moment with them. Hopefully we can keep going strong for the rest of the season.

Q. You said before you learned that you're stronger than maybe you give yourself credit for. Your ability to bounce back from a career perspective is pretty well-documented. What do you tell yourself and why do you think you still have those doubts, if you have them at all, that you're facing something that you can't break through or rebound from, because obviously you've shown the ability to do it now? What are the sources of those doubts?

AMANDA ANISIMOVA: I think they're just normal human experiences. I think your mind can play tricks on you and tell you you can't keep going, if there's certain pains you're having, I don't know, even negativity that shows up. I think that's just part of my learning process, just getting better with each day.

I think the mental game is so important for an athlete. I'm still constantly learning and trying to get better in that department. I think there's always room for improvement there.

Yeah, that's why I said that this week has been really great for me in terms of pushing myself and learning ways to keep myself in check and to keep, I don't know, pushing myself and being mentally strong.

We as athletes don't feel great day in, day out. I think that's just part of the learning process.

Q. A question about the panda. You mentioned you like pandas so much. Is there any particular reason or any similarities between you and the panda?

AMANDA ANISIMOVA: Just that it rhymes with my name, like Amanda panda. That was a nickname my best friend Priscilla gave me when we first met. It's a funny inside joke. I think she was the first one that got me a panda here. I just kept receiving them. I love the animal. It's super cute.

Hopefully I can keep getting more. I'm sure I'm going to reach a limit soon. I definitely will be carrying a bag full of pandas on the way back, that's for sure.

Q. When you look back to the past two weeks in Beijing, what would you say is the toughest moment both on and off court?

AMANDA ANISIMOVA: Like my happiest moment?

Q. Toughest.

AMANDA ANISIMOVA: I think the happiest moment was today getting over the finish line. There's no feeling like it really when you are finally able to win the championship point. That was obviously the highlight of my week. Hugging my team.

Yeah, there were obviously some really tough moments where I was thinking of pulling out a few times. Yeah, I think those were, like, the hardest moments because you're trying to have a conversation with yourself and figure out what's the best decision to make.

Yeah, I'm just really happy that I was able to stick it through and also trust myself and my team, who informed me about my body. Yeah, just trusting and believing in them and myself.

Q. You mentioned some moments you wanted pulling out. Your upcoming schedule, qualifying for the WTA Finals, will you make any changes on your schedule or you'll keep it to play in Wuhan and Ningbo?

AMANDA ANISIMOVA: Right now my schedule remains. I haven't really talked much about the schedule or haven't had many conversations with my team. As of now, that still remains the same.

Q. Can you pinpoint the moments where you were considering pulling out?

AMANDA ANISIMOVA: Yeah, I mean, I was having pain in my foot and in my calf like more into the third round. I think it was obvious in one of the matches where I was in pain. I was just hurting all day when I was walking. I'm still having a bit of pain, but it's nothing serious. It's just like annoying aches and pains.

The good thing at the end of the day is it's nothing that would limit me or prevent me to keep playing for the rest of the season.

Q. In Linda's press conference, she was basically saying when you play like that, sometimes it's too good. Jess on her podcast, they were all talking for 10 minutes about your backhand. When you first started hearing that about the way you play tennis, the way you strike the ball, that it was special, a devastating shot that you heard it from players, parents, coaches whoever...

AMANDA ANISIMOVA: Yeah, I feel like now I'm really able to take it like a compliment. 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).