Amanda Anisimova has broken her silence on the online backlash sparked by her refusal to discuss U.S. politics at the Australian Open. The 24-year-old American advanced to the quarterfinals for the first time since turning pro with a 7-6(4), 6-4 victory over Wang Xinyu. She emphasized her focus on tennis amid the distractions.
Amanda Anisimova reached the Australian Open quarterfinals on January 26, 2026, after defeating Wang Xinyu 7-6(4), 6-4 in the fourth round. This marks her first quarterfinal appearance at the tournament since turning professional in 2016. However, the win was overshadowed by controversy stemming from a press conference earlier in the event, where Anisimova declined to address questions about representing the U.S. in the current political climate under Donald Trump's second administration. 'I don’t think that’s relevant,' she said, a response that ignited online debate and led to her briefly posting and then deleting a tweet on the matter. A misleading video also circulated, falsely accusing her of hitting a ball kid during a match, which she firmly denied: 'I didn’t even hit the ball kid. You couldn’t even see it in the clip, and just people are always saying something.' In her post-match press conference after beating Xinyu, Anisimova opened up about handling the internet backlash. 'I feel like the internet, it’s tough,' she admitted. 'It comes with the job, which is something I’ve learned to get used to. There are definitely days where it bothers me a little bit, and I tell myself it’s OK to get upset or frustrated, ’cause at the end of the day, I’m human. It can be pretty difficult but it’s not worth so much of my energy and time.' She explained her decision to avoid the political question, stating it seemed designed to create headlines rather than foster genuine discussion. 'It had nothing to do with my political views or anything like that. So, the fact that people assume that they know my stance on certain important topics is just wrong and it’s not factual,' Anisimova clarified. Anisimova is not alone among American players fielding such questions. Coco Gauff, after her second-round win, expressed hope for more peace and kindness in the U.S., while admitting fatigue from the topic: 'I’ve been pretty vocal about how I felt. At this point, I feel a bit fatigued talking about it.' Madison Keys, following her third-round victory, voiced optimism for national unity: 'I think my stance has been pretty obvious... I am hopeful that we as a country can come together.' Anisimova now prepares for an all-American quarterfinal against Jessica Pegula on January 28, with cooler temperatures expected around 25°C in Melbourne.
