American tennis player Amanda Anisimova has ended her partnership with coach Hendrik Vleeshouwers following a slow start to the 2026 season. The 24-year-old, who dropped from world No. 3 to No. 6, announced the split on Instagram without disclosing a specific reason. Both shared messages of gratitude for their two-year collaboration.
Amanda Anisimova revealed the coaching change in an emotional Instagram post on Saturday. 'It’s been quite the ride and journey together,' she wrote, reflecting on their achievements including two WTA 1000 titles and back-to-back Grand Slam finals that propelled her to world No. 3 last year. She praised Vleeshouwers for treating her 'as a human first, before an athlete,' and wished him success ahead. The pair began working together in 2024 during the grass-court season, shortly after Anisimova's mental health hiatus from the WTA Tour. Their partnership sparked a rapid resurgence: she reached her first WTA 1000 final in Toronto that August, earned a nomination for WTA Comeback Player of the Year, and climbed nearly 400 ranking spots. In 2025, Vleeshouwers received WTA Coach of the Year honors from his peers, having previously guided players like Elise Mertens and Yanina Wickmayer. This year, Anisimova holds an 11-6 singles record, highlighted by a semifinal run at the Dubai Tennis Championships and a quarterfinal at the Australian Open. Vleeshouwers responded on Instagram, calling it the 'closing of an incredible chapter' marked by milestones, hard work, and shared laughs. He thanked Anisimova and their support team, including Shadi, Rob, Hleb, and Ben, before announcing time at home with family to reflect on future opportunities. No replacement coach has been named, though Wim Fissette is mentioned as a potential option after his recent split from Iga Swiatek. Anisimova skips events in Linz and Stuttgart, entering as second seed at the Credit One Charleston Open starting March 30 on green clay in South Carolina.
