By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Friday January 21, 2022
Amanda Anisimova saved a pair of match points and toppled defending champ Naomi Osaka in third-round action at the Australian Open.
Photo Source: Getty
Amanda Anisimova had her back against the wall on Friday night in Melbourne. Not once, but twice!
The American was a point from bowing out to Aussie Open juggernaut Naomi Osaka, serving at 4-5, 30-40 and again at 4-5 ad-out in the third set. But the 20-year-old World No.60 never blinked, she hit with purpose and clarity, drawing a backhand error on Osaka’s first match point at the end of a scintillating rally, then drawing a second backhand error two points later to rally back to deuce.
Moments later, with the crowd at full roar inside Margaret Court Arena, she closed out the hold.
She would never look back.
Anisimova forced a tiebreak two games later then powered ahead of Osaka, outplaying her from the baseline as the two conducted furious rallies, and closing out an emotional 4-6, 6-3, 7-6(5) triumph that sends her to the round of 16 at a major for the first time since her run to the semifinals at Roland-Garros in 2019.
"I just want to soak in this moment," Anisimova said after the match. "I'm just extremely happy. It was an amazing match. It was very close. You know, there were a bit of nerves, and to play Naomi for the first time, it's unreal, honestly. So I'm just really happy with the win today. Yeah, it sucks we couldn't both win today."
Anisimova was just 17 at the time of that breakout moment in Paris. Now, at twenty, and more than two years removed from the sudden, heartbreaking passing of her father and coach Konstantin, she is in a much better place. After two difficult seasons she has begun a trial run with legendary coach Darren Cahill and has rebuilt her confidence by racking up quality wins.
She’s now on an eight-match winning streak and appears to be fulfilling the promise that most recognized in her ever since she became a junior Grand Slam champion in 2017, or certainly when she reached the last four at Roland-Garros in just her fourth main draw appearance at a major less than two years later.
As for Osaka, there’s little to be upset about. She made her long awaited return to the game this month and played with passion, once again demonstrating her prowess and seemingly limitless potential on hard courts. She was one shot away from ending Anisimova’s winning streak and will likely rue the backhand misses on match point. But the way Osaka progressed in the first week, and the sheer lethal quality of her tennis, has reminded us that she has the potential to return to the top of the sport – provided that she can find joy in it.
"I would definitely say I'm proud of myself for this," Osaka said. "I think this for me is the biggest step, even though I lost. I think I was really focused throughout the entire match, and I didn't have a dip. So that's really good, you know. But, yeah, hopefully as the season continues, I'll be able to keep this up, and get even better at it."
That’s another conversation for another time, but for now we can take solace in the fact that Osaka is back, enjoying the sport, and hungry for more.
As for Anisimova, her challenges will only get bigger. The American will face the World No.1 and top seed Ash Barty in the round of 16. The Aussie has been devastating through three rounds, dropping just eight games and she has yet to drop serve. Barty rides a seven-match winning streak after toppling Camila Giorgi 6-2, 6-3 on Day 5.
It was Barty who ended Anisimova’s run at Roland-Garros on a windy, rainy day in Paris in 2019. Perhaps the American can turn the table, and notch another upset, but do so she’ll have to solve a puzzle that few players have been able to handle of late. Defeating Osaka in a slugfest is right up Anisimova’s alley, but how will she fare while playing a more chess-like brand of tennis that she’ll likely be lured into against Barty?
Win or lose it will be a great test in a tournament that has already been a startling success for Anisimova.