Anisimova powers past Wang to reach her first AO quarterfinal

Amanda Anisimova has advanced to her third consecutive Grand Slam quarterfinal, where she will meet fellow American Jessica Pegula.

Anisimova, last year’s Wimbledon and US Open finalist, defeated Wang Xinyu 7-6(4) 6-4 at John Cain Arena and is still yet to drop a set at Australian Open 2026.

The No.4 seed will next meet sixth seed Pegula, who earlier on Monday ended the title defence of Madison Keys in straight sets.

Pegula leads the head-to-head series against Anisimova 3-0; both women are targeting a first AO semifinal.

Amanda Anisimova admits the struggle is real balancing her perfectionist tendencies with reason as she enters the business end of this year’s Australian Open.

The more matches the world No.4 contests, however, the more rational she finds this perspective becomes.

On Monday, the American completed the career set of Grand Slam quarterfinals at Melbourne Park following a 7-6(4) 6-4 victory over China’s in-form Wang Xinyu.

In a first-time meeting between the pair, it was impressive but far from perfect by the heavy-striking Anisimova’s own standards.

Crucially though it kept her campaign for a third straight Grand Slam final on track.

“I’m feeling great, I mean what a battle out there today. Tough conditions again against a really good opponent,” Anisimova said.

“I’ve never played her before and she’s playing some great tennis so yeah it was a great atmosphere out there.”

The 46th-ranked Wang had already taken down big-hitting seeds Jelena Ostapenko and Linda Noskova to book her maiden Australian Open fourth round and locked at 3-all in the opening set, it was her taking the initiative.

Her average forehand speed of 120km/h was 2km/h faster than Anisimova’s while her average backhand speed of 124km/h was 9km/h heavier.

With a sizeable contingent of Chinese fans willing her on, Wang was finding her spots well on serve, but at 4-5 the pressure compounded.

A double fault and backhand error gave her opponent a set point, which she managed to fend off with a body-jamming serve and she stayed alive with a perfectly executed drop shot.

A broken shoe was a momentary distraction for Anisimova but following a quick switch, she found her best when she needed it most in the tiebreak, ripping her signature backhand at Wang’s feet to claim it after 51 minutes.

The discarded footwear later made its way to a delighted fan in the stands.

“I need to get a new pair of shoes, but it’s the second shoe I’ve broken this week and it’s the first time it’s happened in my life,” Anisimova said.

“My shoe was about to fall off. I didn’t let it really distract me. I just had to change it quickly. Thank God, I was the one serving. Hopefully they enjoy my right shoe.”

Following three successive breaks at the beginning of the second set, Wang called for the physio for a right leg injury.

The break in play was enough to snap the string of breaks, and back-to-back aces helped Anisimova close to within two games of the match.

Wardrobe malfunction crisis averted and a dangerous opponent subdued, 27 winners and 27 unforced errors left room for improvement but acknowledgement she had broken fresh ground after three previous trips to the fourth round.

Sixth-seeded compatriot Jessica Pegula is next after she earlier ended the reign of defending champion Madison Keys.

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