March Madness in Miami is in full swing, and the upsets just keep coming. Top seeds are dropping like dominoes at the Masters 1000 event. Carlos Alcaraz, Daniil Medvedev, and Madison Keys are just a few big names who have made early exits. Now, Indian Wells champions Jack Draper and Mirra Andreeva have also bowed out, ending their hopes of completing the Sunshine Double. Draper fell to rising Czech star Jakub Mensik, while Andreeva lost to Amanda Anisimova. It was a clash of generations—former teenage prodigy vs. current teenage sensation. And in a thrilling three-set battle, Anisimova came out on top, winning 7-6, 2-6, 6-3. But did you know this match wouldn’t have happened if Anisimova’s parents hadn’t moved to the U.S.? That decision changed the course of her life and tennis career. Find out how!
Amanda Anisimova was born in Freehold Township, New Jersey, to Russian parents Olga Anisimova and Konstantin Anisimov. She has an older sister, Maria, who played college tennis at the University of Pennsylvania while attending Wharton’s undergraduate business school. Her parents emigrated from Russia to the U.S. a few years before she was born, hoping to provide Maria with better opportunities. Neither parent had a background in competitive tennis—they worked in finance and banking.
Despite that, tennis quickly became a family affair. Amanda’s biggest inspiration was her older sister. Watching Maria play sparked her own passion for the sport. “When I was little, she was playing tennis. I always saw her playing, and I wanted to do it too. That’s how I got into it, and my parents got into it too,” the World No.17 shared in an interview with the WTA Tour.
Her family relocated to Florida when she was very young, seeking better training opportunities. Amanda and Maria had access to top coaches, and their father played a key role in her development, serving as her primary coach throughout her junior years. Her mother also helped with coaching. While Maria stepped away to pursue a career in banking, Amanda still chased tennis success.
Interestingly, Anisimova’s journey mirrors that of another legendary tennis family. In 1991, the Williams family moved to West Palm Beach, Florida, so Venus and Serena could attend Rick Macci’s tennis academy. Their father, Richard Williams, coached them for years, laying the foundation for their historic careers. His approach has since become a model for parents with similar aspirations for their children.
Coming back to the Miami Open, up next, the 23-year-old faces former US Open champion Emma Raducanu, in the fourth round of the Miami Open.
Amanda Anisimova vs. Emma Raducanu: A High-Stakes Fourth-Round Clash
For both players, this marks their first time reaching the fourth round in Miami. Raducanu advanced after her third-round opponent, McCartney Kessler, retired due to injury. The Brit was leading 3-0 in the second set after winning the first 6-1. Before that, she pulled off a gritty upset over eighth seed Emma Navarro, winning 7-6(6), 2-6, 7-6(3). Raducanu now holds a 6-6 record for the season and has won three matches at a tournament for the first time in 2025.
Anisimova, meanwhile, has been on a rollercoaster. She kicked off the season by winning the WTA 1000 event in Doha but struggled in Dubai and Indian Wells, losing in the early rounds. Now, she’s back in form, bringing an 11-4 record into the Miami Open.
These two have faced off once before—earlier this year at the Australian Open. Raducanu won that encounter 6-3, 7-5 in the second round. Now, Anisimova has a chance to even the score. The winner of this battle will move on to face either Jessica Pegula or Marta Kostyuk in the quarterfinals. Who do you think will come out on top this time?
The post Why Did Amanda Anisimova’s Parents Decide to Shift to the U.S? Here’s How Their Decision Helped the 23YO appeared first on EssentiallySports.