Amanda Anisimova, who was nominated for the 2026 Laureus World Sports Awards in the ‘Laureus World Comeback of the Year’ category, dazzled the elite gathering in Madrid with her stunning silver gown. The American star was thereafter expected to compete at the WTA 1000 event in the Spanish capital. She has, however, decided not to play, having also skipped the Charleston Open following her campaign at the Miami Open.
Amanda Anisimova Exudes Elegance at Laureus World Sports Awards And Withdraws From the Madrid Open
Anisimova last competed at the Indian Wells Open and the Miami Open on US soil. At the Indian Wells Tennis Garden, she advanced to the round of 16 after defeating Anna Blinkova and Emma Raducanu. In Miami, she fell short of clinching a round-of-16 win against Belinda Bencic but beat Ajla Tomljanović and Yuliia Starodubtseva in the opening rounds.
The American, who was one of the top-seeded players in Madrid, will not be seen in action at the Caja Mágica in Manzanares Park. She made a late withdrawal after the draw was announced due to an unresolved wrist injury. The decision came as a surprise, considering her presence in Madrid.
She also skipped the Credit One Charleston Open due to the injury she sustained while competing at Hard Rock Stadium. Anisimova has been replaced by Magdalena Frech in the draw.
Before withdrawing, the World No. 6 attended the 2026 Laureus World Sports Awards, which took place at the Cibeles Palace. She joined elite athletes from around the globe in a stunning silver gown by Romanian fashion designer and entrepreneur Maria Lucia Hohan.
She wore the Silk Alessandra Maxi Dress, a strapless, floor-length silver gown with intricate pleating, and completed her look with white heels and Tiffany & Co. jewelry. The player’s mother, Olga, accompanied her as her plus-one, dressed in an elegant black dress and silver heels.
On her Instagram post, she expressed her gratitude for the Laureus World Sports Awards, mentioning, “It was such an honor to be a part of the @laureussport awards and to sit in the same room as so many legends across all sports last night 🤍 It means the world to me to be the comeback player of the year nominee. An incredibly inspiring and special night, thank you for having me!”
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She also shared a heartwarming glimpse of herself with World No. 2 Carlos Alcaraz on Instagram. “Buenas Noches 👋 #laureusawards,” she wrote. The Spaniard who won his first World Sportsman of the Year award wore a black tuxedo.
In Anisimova’s nominated category, the former World No. 1 golf star, Rory McIlroy, won the Laureus World Comeback of the Year Award.
