American tennis star Amanda Anisimova is set to defend her title at the 2026 Qatar Open, but ahead of the tournament, she featured in a light-hearted video segment with the WTA. When the World No. 4 was asked to name her biggest doubter, the question caught her off guard, prompting a smile, a few chuckles, and a deliberately cryptic response.
Amanda Anisimova Reacts Cheekily As a Clip of Her Handling a Tricky Question Makes Waves Online
Anisimova has yet to replicate the form that defined her previous season. The American opened her campaign at the Brisbane International and earned a straight-sets victory over Kimberly Birrell before bowing out in the second round to Ukraine’s Marta Kostyuk.
She then turned her attention to the Australian Open, entering the event as the fourth seed.
The 24-year-old made an emphatic start, cruising past Simona Waltert, Kateřina Siniaková, Peyton Stearns, and then overcoming Wang Xinyu in the fourth round. With the momentum firmly on her side and her recent form backing her up, Anisimova entered the quarterfinal as the favorite.
However, Jessica Pegula leaned on her experience to seize control at key moments, sealing a 6-2, 7-6(1) victory and bringing her compatriot’s run to an end.
Anisimova will now turn her attention to defending her WTA 1000 crown in Qatar, and she entered the draw as the third seed and received a direct bye into the second round.
However, before that, the American featured in a WTA video segment and was asked to name the biggest doubter she faced on her journey. With a smile, Anisimova replied, “Whoa, Tea. What are you doing? I mean, I am not calling anybody out.”
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The response was deliberately cryptic, with Anisimova admitting she chose not to reveal too much about herself in the clip. “Shii didn’t end up spilling the tea, next time guys,” she wrote in the comments.
It is worth noting that Anisimova’s breakthrough run in 2025 gathered momentum at the Qatar Open, as her title triumph sent a clear message across the women’s field.
The American powered past Victoria Azarenka, Paula Badosa, Leylah Fernandez, and Marta Kostyuk before dispatching Ekaterina Alexandrova in straight sets in the semifinals to book her place in the final.
She appeared in little trouble in the championship match, sealing a commanding 6-4, 6-3 victory over Jeļena Ostapenko to claim her maiden WTA 1000 title.
As a significant portion of the 2026 season still lies ahead, Anisimova’s progress, shaped by her recent form, will be one to watch.
