Amanda Anisimova may have missed out on a slam winning chance twice in 2025, but she has proved her mettle already. After all, it is not easy to get double bagel’d in a Wimbledon final and then make a stunning comeback in your home slam. The 24-year-old made her second-straight appearance in the summit clash of a major event. Even by her own admission, “It’s been a great summer,” and she would like to stretch this phase further now. In Beijing, the American WTA star has kicked off her campaign in style while sending shockwaves to her next round opponent, who just made an honest confession. It appears the two have a history between them.

The R32 of the China Open will see Anisimova locking horns with local star Zhang Shuai. But guess what? It won’t be the first time they will meet each other. However, it will be after seven years that they will get to have a face-off. The last time they met, it was during the Japan Open in 2018. Back then, in a semifinal encounter, Anisimova beat Shuai in straight sets with a scoreline of 7-6(4), 7-5. Ahead of their second meeting, Shuai, 36, had a revelation to make. During an official interview, when asked what kind of preparation she had done to take on Anisimova, again, she revealed, “I don’t even know who my opponent is in the next round. I didn’t give too much thought to it.”

But when she got to know it was Anisimova, Shuai had nothing but praise for her American counterpart. “I think she’s a genius girl.” Recalling the early days of seeing the American play, she continued, “She was very young. She was already very talented. I was really inspired when I saw her. She then went through a lot of ups and downs. Then I saw her come back.” After losing her father in 2019, Anisimova went through a brutal phase on-and-off the court. Mentally, she wasn’t able to concentrate, causing her to drop down in the rankings.

Just a year ago, she was outside of top 180. She even failed to qualify for Wimbledon. But this season, she flipped her fate stunningly. Not to mention, she is now in the top 5 in the rankings.

Concluding her thoughts on Anisimova, Shuai said, “I feel really happy for her because on the tour we need an example like this. She can play tennis in a very beautiful way. I think the WTA really needs a player like this.” Zhang’s campaign at the China Open this week has been slightly challenging. In the first match against Anastasia Zakharova, she lost the first set but then managed to come back eventually. In the decider, she won with a scoreline of 3-6, 6-1, 6-4.

Then in the R64, Shuai pulled off a straight-set win against compatriot Xinyu Wang. On the other hand, her next round rival is looking forward to making a lasting impression in Beijing. So what is going on inside Anisimova’s mind?

Amanda Anisimova speaks about her plans for the China Open

Amanda Anisimova made a roaring start to her campaign at the WTA 1000 event. In the first battle, she routed British star Katie Boulter in straight-sets (6-1, 6-3). Within three weeks of losing that US Open final against Aryna Sabalenka, it seems the American has returned to winning ways.

Following the victory, the world No.4 expressed her excitement about playing at the China Open. Initially thanking the crowd for cheering her against Boulter, she began, “I have a lot of fans here, which is really nice,” reported The Tennis Gazette on September 26. “You guys were great today, so I hope you can all come out for my next one.”

She added, “I’m super excited to be back in Beijing, I love playing here, and I really like the city, so it’s good to be back and good to be through my first round.”

On her campaign moving forward, Anisimova confessed, “I’m hoping that I can do well, keep fighting, and keep competing, and hopefully can get far in these tournaments.”

In the event Amanda Anisimova wins the China Open this week, she may have the chance to enter an elite list. This season, only Mirra Andreeva (Dubai and Indian Wells) and Aryna Sabalenka (Miami and Madrid) have won more than one WTA 1000 trophy. Anisimova won the Qatar Open back in February. In case she wins in Beijing, too, she will become only the third player to clinch two 1000 tournaments this season.

Do you think Anisimova will leave her US Open setback behind? Can she make a strong return with a title triumph at the China Open? Let us know in the comments below.