Former Australian player Rennae Stubbs has predicted a promising year ahead for the rising American star Amanda Anisimova. The Aussie believes Anisimova is on the right track, set to learn from her 2025 season and potentially capture her maiden Grand Slam title next year.
Amid fierce competition from top WTA stars including Aryna Sabalenka, Iga Swiatek, Coco Gauff, Jessica Pegula, and others, Amanda Anisimova climbed the ranks with a remarkable season highlighted by WTA 1000 triumphs in Qatar and China, an impressive 47–18 win-loss record, and a year-end World No. 4 finish.
Amanda Anisimova Tipped for Success Amid Rivalry With Coco Gauff, Jessica Pegula, and Madison Keys
Anisimova also showcased remarkable grit at the Grand Slams this season, particularly at Wimbledon and the US Open. However, after an impressive run at SW19, the American suffered a crushing 0-6, 0-6 loss to Iga Świątek.
She displayed the same dominance in Flushing Meadows, advancing to the final before falling to World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka 3-6, 6-7 (7), once again narrowly missing out on her maiden Grand Slam title.
Although Anisimova fell short of capturing a Grand Slam title this year, former player Rennae Stubbs believes her fate will be different next season. Speaking on her podcast, the 54-year-old predicted that Anisimova could lift the Australian Open trophy, citing her understanding of the conditions and recalling her memorable victory over Aryna Sabalenka in 2019.
“I think Amanda, going into next year, I already said it on the pod a month ago that I do think, she is really gonna win a slam next year, a Major title. I think she can win the Australian Open, she has done really well their in the past, she beat Sabalenka there in the past and make the semifinals I believe. It’s a really good surface for her, I would certainly look out for her,” she said.
Stubbs praised Anisimova’s growth, noting how she rebounded from her crushing Wimbledon loss by later defeating Iga Świątek twice at the US Open and then at the WTA Finals. She believes those experiences have strengthened the American, making her a serious contender to win a Grand Slam next season.
“Because I think all the experience she had this year, losing in that devastating final at Wimbledon and then correcting everything and not losing now to Iga Świątek, two times that she has played her after that, pretty extraordinary. So I think that she goes into next year as a player that I really think is gonna breakthrough,” she added.
It is worth noting that Anisimova has shown strong form this year amid fierce competition from her compatriots, Madison Keys, who captured the Australian Open title; Coco Gauff, who won the French Open and a WTA 1000 event in Wuhan; and World No. 6 Jessica Pegula, who lifted trophies in Bad Homburg, Charleston, and Austin.
Courtesy of her phenomenal 2025 campaign, Anisimova earned a spot at the season-ending WTA Finals, where she yet again enjoyed a deep run. She lost only to eventual champion Elena Rybakina in the group stage, but defeated formidable opponents Iga Świątek and Madison Keys to reach the semifinals, where she fell to Aryna Sabalenka in three sets, concluding her season.
