AUSTRALIAN OPEN

January 19, 2026

Amanda Anisimova

Press Conference

A. ANISIMOVA/S. Waltert

6-3, 6-2

THE MODERATOR: Amanda, how does it feel to get that first win under your belt.

AMANDA ANISIMOVA: Yeah, it feels great. First rounds are always very tricky, so just really happy to be through to the next one.

Yeah, I thought I played pretty well today.

THE MODERATOR: Questions.

Q. Well done. You said you thought you played pretty well. Also some moments of frustration? Is that sort of normal, natural, you think, for you, or tension?

AMANDA ANISIMOVA: Yeah, I mean, in the first set I was making a lot of mistakes. It's normal, and I think the most important thing is that I had a good attitude for the entire match, and I was able to pick up my level a little bit in the second set and cut down on some errors.

Q. I actually wanted to ask you about a TikTok you filmed with Sabalenka and Badosa a few weeks ago. It seemed like a spur-of-the-moment skit. And it seems like you have done a good job of maintaining relationships with players and still playing hard against them on the court. Is that something you grew into or something you've always been able to balance?

AMANDA ANISIMOVA: Yeah, we filmed it when we were in Brisbane. I like both of the girls. They are very nice. I think they were about to film a TikTok and asked me to join in, but it was just funny.

Yeah, I like to have fun with the players. I feel like I have a lot of good relationships on tour, and I think that's really important personally for me. I mean, we're around each other more than our own family and friends, I feel like, most of the time. I think it's important to, you know, have those relationships and be able to have fun off of the court.

Yeah, I really like that about Aryna and Paula, that they're able to maintain a fun environment when we're outside of, you know, match play, when we're able to practice, and just be around each other. It's very light and fun. Yeah, I really enjoy that.

Q. Do you feel like Aryna, as the No. 1, sort of sets that tone, maybe encourages more of that social behavior, or is that regardless of what's going on at the top?

AMANDA ANISIMOVA: Yeah, for sure. I love the fact that she's at the top and she's ranked No. 1, and obviously she maintains a very professional attitude.

But then at the same time, she showcases that, you know, you're allowed to have fun and be goofy off of the court. I feel like she's breaking some boundaries, I guess, in that aspect of being able to have a good balance. I love that.

Q. After the preseason and a bit of time off, you very much come into this competition as one of the favorites. After the whirlwind of last year, how are you dealing with changing expectations and I guess adjusting to the constantly changing world around you now?

AMANDA ANISIMOVA: I mean, I'm just focused on what I need to do, how I want to improve as a player. There is not much to it, really. Just trying to, you know, find that extra edge anywhere I can, same as last year.

Just my goal is to always improve and get the best out of myself every single day, and I feel like that hasn't changed.

Q. As you said before, your main focus is be the best athlete you can be. What does that mean to you? What does that look like?

AMANDA ANISIMOVA: I'd say consistency and discipline. I think when you put in the work every day, there's always, you know, you get fitter, and then you can improve even more.

I think that just has to do with time and giving time to myself to, you know, improve as much as I can. It's not a sprint. I mean, it's more like a marathon.

Those things take time to improve on. Yeah, I'm just hoping that day by day I stay healthy and I keep doing the right things. I trust the team that I have to help me improve on that.

Q. You talk sort of the TikToks, social media, and your personality on and off the court, public personality on and off the court. It seems that authenticity and openness are massive things for you. What do they mean to you as a person?

AMANDA ANISIMOVA: Yeah, it means the world to me. I love to be myself regardless of the career I have. I think that's the most important thing, to be true to myself and to be able to have fun and not really have a filter.

But then obviously when I'm on the court, my demeanor changes a bit. I'm more serious on the court. But then off the court, I love to have fun. That's how I make this career sustainable, this lifestyle. Yeah, I mean, I feel like I have really been able to have a good balance with that in the last few years.

Q. I wanted to ask you about that first set. I think you had 5 winners and 15 unforced errors in the first set, and you still won it comfortably. After a set like that, is your feeling closer to frustration about maybe a part of your game not working as you would like, or is it a confidence builder because you weren't at your best and still made it through the set pretty easily?

AMANDA ANISIMOVA: I mean, I don't really want to overthink it. I think the most important thing is that I wasn't letting it get to my head. When I was making those mistakes I was just kind of regrouping after every single one, trying to not really think too analytically about anything.

Yeah, just going out there, knowing what I'm trying to do, trying to work on. There were still things I was trying to work on. It's the first match, and sometimes it didn't work. I told myself that was fine to make those mistakes but still go for it.

Yeah, I mean, I'm not trying to think too much about it or get down on myself.

Q. Can you tell us about one of the things you were trying to work on specifically?

AMANDA ANISIMOVA: Just going for my shots, being aggressive, as I try to do (smiling).

Q. Is the tension level high, like highest at the first round, and then go down a little bit and then ramp up in the second week?

AMANDA ANISIMOVA: I think it depends. I mean, I have had a lot of great opening rounds at the slams last year where I played very well. I think just depends on the day. I think sometimes you slowly ease into the tournament the more matches you play, but I think it depends on the circumstance. Like every match is sort of different, and the conditions are always different. But definitely getting through a first round is important, and then I think it gets easier from there on.

Q. You talked about trying to protect yourself from overthinking. Have you got any specific techniques that you work on within yourself to do that, to protect yourself and stop yourself from worrying when things might not be going exactly as you want?

AMANDA ANISIMOVA: I don't know. Today I just didn't really think (smiling). I think I finished the match, and I didn't really think about it. I just kind of was, like, okay, that's how I played and that's fine. I didn't really think too deep into it.

I have my routines that I do when it comes to mindfulness and grounding myself. Try to stick to that every single day. I think that helps, just reminding myself to be in the present moment so when I get too caught up in the future or the past, I try to bring myself back. And it is hard, but it's ongoing thing that I'm working on.

Yeah, I have, like, all the techniques that I try to do and keep practicing. Yeah, that's what I try and stick to for, you know, those moments of overthinking or stress.