DUBAI DUTY FREE TENNIS CHAMPIONSHIPS

February 17, 2025

Amanda Anisimova

Dubai Duty Free Tennis Stadium

Press Conference

M. KESSLER/A. Anisimova

6-2, 6-3

THE MODERATOR: Amanda, obviously not the result you were hoping for today, but what were your thoughts on the match?

AMANDA ANISIMOVA: Yeah, I think McCartney was playing very well today. It was just a tough turnaround for me. I tried to find my game today, but it was pretty difficult physically.

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. Can you talk a little about last week, coming back, winning the title, what it took for you to pull off that biggest win. And in any way, are you not at your best physically this week?

AMANDA ANISIMOVA: Yeah, I had an incredible week last week. I think a lot of the work that I was doing was paying off. I also think I was fighting with every match, trying to stay in it, which I think I did a great job of last week.

Yeah, it was super special, a lot of great performances out there.

Q. To prepare for your next tournaments, what adjustments do you think you have to make to your game to focus on your next tournament?

AMANDA ANISIMOVA: Yeah, I think keep doing the same things. Finally get to go home for a bit of a break. I haven't been home since Christmas, so that will be nice.

Yeah, I really wanted to try to do my best today. I was looking forward to playing. But it's very tough when you fly, then you have to go straight to the court. It was pretty tough out there.

But yeah...

I'm looking forward to the next few tournaments. Hopefully I'll bring in the same level that I brought last week.

Q. It was difficult physically or mentally to come from Doha to Dubai?

AMANDA ANISIMOVA: No, mentally I was looking forward to it. Obviously I have confidence right now. But flying and not being able to test out the conditions. I didn't step out on the court at all ahead of the match. Physically I was having a very hard time. Didn't sleep much the last few nights. I was in a little bit of pain today. So yeah, it was pretty tough.

But I am happy with the way I was trying to fight and do as much I could. It just really wasn't enough against high-level players here. It's tough to get a win when you're not feeling your best physically.

Q. Given what you just said, is this an easier defeat to get over?

AMANDA ANISIMOVA: I mean, any loss is going to be tough to get over. I don't want to also get too down on myself because I had a great week last week. I'm going to try to keep my head up. I think that I can walk away from any loss feeling good as long as I feel like I did everything I could.

I think that I was trying to fight in the second set and have a good attitude, which I'm happy about, despite how I was feeling.

Whenever I do that and lose, at the end of the day it's easier to take. I can go home feeling good about myself after last week. Yeah, try to put today aside.

But obviously no one leaves the court losing with a smile on their face.

Q. Given the tight turnaround from Doha to Dubai, what was the decision-making process for you to even come here? Did you consider packing it in because of how quick it would be?

AMANDA ANISIMOVA: Yeah, I mean, it's very tough. Definitely a little scary to go and play after such a quick turnaround. Not testing out the conditions and putting your body through that, it's like very vulnerable.

But with the schedule they have on us, it's tough. You get fined. Then your ranking gets affected if you skip the big tournaments. We don't get much of a choice when it comes to that.

Knowing that in my mind, I was like, okay, I'm going to try to play and do the best that I can. Hopefully I can get more used to that.

Obviously it's a good problem to have after a long week. But yeah, it was definitely difficult. But I'm happy with the way that I tried to manage it and tried to put myself out there and still compete.

Q. I think you are as of today a top-20 player, which is crazy that you're just now. Have you felt like one in the past and this feels like a stamp on your career or maybe was it more of an emotional moment for you?

AMANDA ANISIMOVA: I definitely didn't feel like one because I never was (smiling).

But yeah, I never was very consistent I feel like on the tour since I was still relatively young when I had good results. I think that year in 2022 when I had good results, I made the quarters of Wimbledon, those points didn't count. I felt like I was having a really good year that year. So then maybe I felt like my level was very good.

Hopefully this year I can keep playing good tennis. I feel like I'm in a good spot right now where I am mentally and physically. I hope I can build off of that. Yeah, just gaining more experience in match play is going to be important for me.

Yeah, I'm feeling good since my break. I'm trying to build and catch my rhythm here.

Q. Apart from the tennis, which obviously is a big part of what you do, what other big significant challenges do you find when you're on tour?

AMANDA ANISIMOVA: I think being away from home is very tough. I don't know what it's like for everyone, but I'm someone who can get homesick. I miss my family and friends.

But I feel like having a good team and support system around you is so important. Even though I feel like I've been away from home for quite a bit of time now, I've honestly been really enjoying it, also despite being injured as well for a few weeks.

I'm trying to take advantage of the traveling that we get to do and really stay present in the moment and try to focus on the positives.

I feel like I'm starting to go sightseeing more, just appreciate being in the cities that I'm at as opposed to maybe a few years ago I would focus more on the stress of being at the tournaments, kind of put myself in more of a bubble than I would do now.

I try to have a good balance of just being grateful for the traveling I get to do, as well as the high stakes and pressure of the competition. I think finding that balance has been really important.

Then obviously when I get to go home now, it's also a good feeling. Yeah, I'm looking forward to seeing my family.

Q. You spoke about sightseeing. Do you have any plans in the next few days in Dubai?

AMANDA ANISIMOVA: No (smiling). I think I'm going to go home. Yeah, I do love Dubai, though, which is really sad. I was hoping that I would get to spend a few more days here because I really love the city.

But hopefully next year I'll have a longer week here because I think I'm going to go home pretty soon.

Q. What do you make of what McCartney has been able to do, going from college to pros? I think your sister played college as well. Is that an avenue that you ever considered when you were younger?

AMANDA ANISIMOVA: Yeah, I think what McCartney is doing is phenomenal, as well as all the other players who have gone to college in person and played in team and then transitioned to the pros. It's quite incredible. I think a few years ago not many players were doing that. Yeah, I think it's just amazing the level that they're bringing on.

It's quite different on the tour level than obviously match play in college. So I think she's been having a great year. She's playing some good tennis.

Yeah, my sister, she also played college tennis. She was a pretty good player, as well.

I think there were some moments when I was, like, 15 that I considered it. I wasn't sure if I was good enough to go to the pro level. But there was one moment that, like, changed my mind in the junior Grand Slams where I was like, This is something I want to do.

I kind of knew early on that I wanted to pursue a pro tennis career, and college wasn't going to be something that I was interested in unless it wasn't going to work out. But yeah...