This article wasn’t planned, as Amanda Anisimova has become too good to attract any material attention by this blog: It’s time to leave to proper magazines to speak about the blonde American. Nevertheless, today there were so many views of an article of mine on her, that I felt forced to write something on the match she won against Sabalenka.
Let’s start by saying that I am not surprised of the result. Last year this girl has easily beaten Pavlyuchenkova and Kvitova and she played an even set against Pliskova (after having lost the first set by 6-1 – and Pliskova’s level didn’t drop: Amanda reaction was impressive -); more recently she has beaten some top 100 by 6-1 6-1 or 6-2 6-1; she has beaten Styrkova by 6-3 6-3; she has beaten Babos. No surprise that, eventually, she has also beaten the 12th seed of this Australian Open with such ease (6-3 6-2 was the final score, as everybody knows). What, instead, really surprised me was the predictions shown at the start of the match: 91% Sabalenka, 9% Amanda. I guess that who made these predictions does not know Amanda and considered only her current ranking, around 90, which is though heavily affected by an injury she suffered last year, just before a match against Muguruza. Now, I wouldn’t say Amanda was the favourite to win today, but I think there was no way to give the girl less than 30% of chances to beat Sabalenka.
As I wrote many articles on Amanda, I won’t repeat everything: if you want to read some more on her game, you can look here or just search “Amanda” on the blog. So, just a few hints on what I noticed in her match against Sabalenka:
1) Amanda has no big serve: usually she hits below 170 km/h; though she is able to find very tight angles, thanks to which she aces a lot or grabs anyway many direct points. Maybe also thanks to the cooperation of a slow Sabalenka, most of time she took decisive advantage both from first and second serves;
2) She is so fast and reactive. Throughout all the match Amanda was able to return aggressively Sabalenka serves, even those hit at 180 km/h. Actually, her reactivity can be seen not only when she returns but in her whole baseline game: even when her opponent hits big shots she remains stuck to the baseline and plays with great anticipation. Actually in this she reminds me of Djokovic. I think this feature is the most noticeable of her game.
3) Amanda is able to easily find angles, both with her forehand and with her backhand; both down the line and crosscourt. She does not hit at huge pace, but her ability in the opening shots (serves and returns) and the ease in moving the ball and her opponent in any direction allow her to lead rallies also against more powerful opponents, such as Sabalenka. Today, two very tight and delicate crosscourt backhands played from the double’s sideline, which sent Sabalenka on the stands, were pieces of art.
4) Amanda has said in an interview that she does not have a favourite shot (between her backhand and forehand). Though, I still prefer her backhand, through which she delivers artistic shots as the above ones, and which I find more fluid.
5) Amanda owns a tender hand, as she has shown against Sabalenka by hitting a soft and neat backhand dropshot. Pity she doesn’t show us more often this last feature, not really for tactical reasons, but for the pleasure of seeing her playing some finesses.
The match against Sabalenka was not really entertaining, mainly due to the limits of the Belorussian player, who of course is really strong but can do only one thing: hit the ball as hard as she can. This plan didn’t work today against Amanda, but she couldn’t really think to an alternative one.
Next Amanda’s match will be against Kvitova: Amanda has already shown she can win against the Czech champion. Anyway, whatever the score will be, she can be real pleased with herself. One final note: up to now the most difficult match for Amanda has been (by far) the one against Niculescu: it seems that old fashioned tennis may be a good solution to effectively face Amanda and her “tremendous” peers.
Anisimova is not the only “millennial” still in the draw: as predictable, Dayana Yastremska has beaten Suarez Navarro (in three sets) and will now play against Serena Williams. Even if I do not like Yastremska’s style, I may follow that match.
Potapova didn’t instead make it through against Medison Keys and also Andreescu, despite a great performance, eventually was beaten in three sets by Sevastova. Iga Swiatek too has lost today: as I have foreseen, Giorgi’s power was too much for her to bear. Iga has up to now played against no more than 4 or 5 top 100, none of them closely as powerful as Giorgi is, and I think she wasn’t really prepared for the pace of the Italian. This will be the next step for Iga in order to raise her level: learn to play against girls who hit as hard as her, or even harder. Amanda has shown pretty well how to do that.
