ROLAND GARROS

May 25, 2026

Amanda Anisimova

Press Conference

A. ANISIMOVA/T. Rakotomanga Rajaonah

6-3, 6-1

THE MODERATOR: Amanda, congratulations. Grand Slams are never easy, first rounds especially, but how would you summarize your match today?

AMANDA ANISIMOVA: Yeah, for sure, the first round of a slam is never easy. Obviously I haven't played a clay match yet, so it was definitely going to be interesting to go into it, but overall I was really excited and feeling good, really happy to be back playing. So, yeah, just really happy to be through to the next round.

THE MODERATOR: Questions.

Q. As you mentioned, this was your first clay court match. What were kind of the biggest unknowns coming into this match?

AMANDA ANISIMOVA: Well, I'd say obviously I've never played her before, so that's already one. I tried to not really overthink anything. I was super excited to be here, to be fit to play, honestly, and that was the only thing I really thought about is what a great opportunity.

I've been really eager to get out there and compete. I thought maybe Madrid. Still wasn't ready, and then was trying to push for Rome, and it was just too soon.

Yeah, I'm just super relieved that all is good and that I'm ready to play.

Q. You mentioned on court that you use your time off to work on things you wanted to work on, so can you elaborate on what are those things? And also, you made a coaching change. What were you looking in a new coach? Why did this change happen? What are you working on?

AMANDA ANISIMOVA: No, it's nothing too complicated. To keep working on my forehand and my serve. Obviously it was my left wrist, so it didn't make that very difficult for me to keep training and to keep working on those things, but really nothing complicated.

It was just getting the reps in, getting enough trainings in, because we normally don't even get much of a preseason. So I just tried to use that time for that, just to stay ready, and whenever I'm ready to play again, that I'd be ready to compete and play matches.

Yeah, it's definitely been quite a progression, and I'm really happy with the way things are going with Sebastian. Yeah, I'm excited to see how this year goes and the future.

Q. Talking about the wrist, has it fully healed? How do you feel today on the court? We are seeing so many wrist injuries. I'm just curious if you guys are starting to talk with each other about how each of you are dealing with it, is it a coincidence, is there something else going on? Is there talk about that in the locker room?

AMANDA ANISIMOVA: Not necessarily. I mean, yeah, some of us have wrist injuries. Others have knee or hip problems. I mean, I think it's just a part of tennis. You're going to get hurt eventually, unfortunately.

Always have to deal with something, and some things are more serious than others. Yeah, in terms of resources or doctors, I mean, the girls are always super helpful, and we kind of talk about that.

We check in on how everyone is feeling, so that's really nice in the locker room. Yeah, everyone's got something going on. Yeah, I'm glad it's feeling better and it was nothing too serious.

Q. You didn't even think about not playing here? I mean, it was sufficiently healed already by the time Roland Garros was coming around, or was it a touchy decision? Okay, am I coming just for this tournament or...

AMANDA ANISIMOVA: No, I mean, I've been trying to see it week by week how it's feeling. Whenever I felt like I got enough matches, practice matches, with girls and got enough trainings in where it's, okay, I'm ready to play a Grand Slam, I'm ready to play a full tournament.

But, otherwise, if I didn't have that progression of playing sets -- yeah, for me it's tough, because of course, I want to play this tournament so badly, but at the same time I think none of us really want to risk something getting worse and causing us to be out for the whole year. I'm seeing that a lot of players are getting more smart and mindful about staying healthy and using preventive measures.

In my case, I was ready, and I did all the prep work to be here and hopefully last the full two weeks.

Q. In the past and with other generations it seemed like the friendships amongst players weren't that easy. It seems now that your generation, and I'm from Germany, we have Eva Lys. She's quite popular, has many friends on tour.

AMANDA ANISIMOVA: I talked to her before the match.

Q. I just would like to know from your point of view, is it a new generation that gets along really well in private, but when you step on court, it's clear you are rivals and that this works somehow.

AMANDA ANISIMOVA: I would say it's very Gen Z of us. I think we honestly don't take things too seriously, which is a great thing. Yeah, honestly I love it, and I really like to see the shift that I've seen, because obviously I've been on tour for a really long time.

When I first came on at 16, it was very different, the energy and the atmosphere. It wasn't as warm or as social. So I've seen a lot of changes and how, yeah, there's groups of friends, and obviously there's more social girls, like Eva. She's so nice. Yeah, she's great to have around. I love her.

So, yeah, I absolutely love the fact that, you know, we're able to be friendly and to even hang out off of the court. Then at the same time, if we have to compete against each other, then we're able to compartmentalize it.

It's not the end of the world. Obviously we go out there, and we try our best. We obviously respect one another. Yeah, I feel like it's going in the right direction, and I'm really happy about it.