AUSTRALIAN OPEN

January 24, 2026

Amanda Anisimova

Press Conference

A. ANISIMOVA/P. Stearns

6-1, 6-4

THE MODERATOR: Amanda, into the round of 16. Talk us through your thoughts on the match today.

AMANDA ANISIMOVA: Yeah, really excited to be back in the round of 16 here. Super special. Yeah, the conditions were really tough out there today, so just happy to be through.

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. Whether it's today, or generally playing in extreme heat, if there are steps you take, be that with your eating, drinking, with your strings, any little preventive measures?

AMANDA ANISIMOVA: Yeah, just staying hydrated the day before, the day of is really important. Ice baths.

Yeah, I mean, we always try and prepare as best as we can. I think the only difference is really with the water and also on the court using the ice. We don't really get super long breaks. I felt like I was really rushed today trying to just fit everything in on each changeover.

Yeah, I mean, it's just important to keep fuelling and also staying calm, to not spend my energy on emotions and stuff like that.

Q. Did you do an ice bath? Maddie said it was too early in the day.

AMANDA ANISIMOVA: Yeah, I do a lot of ice baths. I feel like they're really good for me. I do them before and after my matches. Yeah, also after my trainings yesterday.

Q. Obviously fourth round here is a familiar place for you. Especially after what a great year you had last year, how well placed do you feel like you have to really go deep here at Melbourne Park?

AMANDA ANISIMOVA: Yeah, I've been taking it one day at a time, one match at a time. But super excited. It's so special to be back in the fourth round. I was really happy today after my match in getting this win. Every single match has been tough. I really want to do well here.

So yeah, I'm just really looking forward to the next one. Hopefully I can go further.

Q. On the heat, when it came to closing the match, was there extra stress knowing it was only going to get hotter?

AMANDA ANISIMOVA: Going into the match, the one thing I tried to tell myself and stick to was to really not spend my energy on, like, thoughts coming in and out of frustration or negativity or things that just didn't matter, like closing the match or stressing out about not finishing the match, because I knew that, you know, when it's really hot, it brings you even more down and it takes a lot of your energy.

Yeah, I was just really trying to stay focused, try and do the things that I wanted to do, focus on my serve. Yeah, I was really trying to walk in there. I made quite a few mistakes when I was up 5-2. Yeah, I was just trying to regroup, do what I could to close it out, 'cause obviously playing her, it wasn't going to be easy.

Q. When do you think you're at your best last year? Are there certain matches or tournaments that stick out? How do you compare where you are now versus those high points last year?

AMANDA ANISIMOVA: I mean, it's a tough question to answer. I feel like you're never really the same. I feel like with every month you're kind of evolving and changing.

I had a lot of great moments last year. When I look back at some matches or some highlights, I'm like, Wow, I played so well.

Hopefully my level is if not the same but higher right now. I'd say I've been working really hard. I've been trying to improve on certain aspects of my game.

Yeah, of course, it's really hard to top off the year I had last year. It was a really great year, a lot of achievements. So hopefully I can do as well as I did last year and hopefully more.

Q. In the hour or so since you played, have you kept an eye on what's happening with Sinner, down to the American? Any buzz about that at all?

AMANDA ANISIMOVA: No, I was so focused on my recovery, getting changed, coming here. I didn't really have a chance to look at the scoreboard, no.

Q. I know you're improving your movement. It's very high in your priority list. Are there any particular drills that you hate but you do anyway because they help you, you dread?

AMANDA ANISIMOVA: That's a good question.

I actually enjoy, like, the really, really tough ones, really pushing myself. Like we've been doing a lot of movement drills here after all of my trainings. They're not super long, but they're quite intense. I actually like them.

But I'd say when I do them in the pre-season, that's tough because we're packing so many hours. I do kind of dread, like, that afternoon track session, that's like an hour and a half long.

Actually, I like them because I know that's an area I really want to improve in. They're tough, but you really feel good afterwards. Yeah, that is something that I've been adding into my routine.

Q. Are they sideways shuttles and things like that?

AMANDA ANISIMOVA: It depends. Either with the ball or without. We either do track or movement drills with, like, a medicine ball. Here it's been more with the tennis racquet. I prefer that because it's very realistic for me.

Just getting to random balls and kid of scrambling all over the court, which is not something I typically do in my matches but, you know, it does happen. It's something that I want to be really comfortable with.

Q. Your next opponents are on court currently. If it is Noskova, an underrated match for you last year in Wimbledon. What do you remember about that match and the prospect of playing her?

AMANDA ANISIMOVA: Yeah, I've played her a few times. I also played her in the Beijing final which was a really tough one, as well. Really strong opponent. She plays a great game. Every single time we've played, we've had some great battles.

Yeah, I mean, if she ends up winning, I'm sure it's going to be a very tough, tough battle again. But I'm really looking forward to it.

I feel like we bring out the best in each other's game. I feel like the matches that we've played have been really high level. So I'm looking forward to it.

Q. What do you remember of the Wimbledon match specifically?

AMANDA ANISIMOVA: I think it was super late actually that we ended up going on. Different conditions. It was at night, it was indoors. It was very different to the matches I played prior.

Yeah, I mean, I think that we were both really playing well, from what I remember. Obviously quite aggressive fought shots. I think we were both serving really well. Quite similar also to the Beijing final.