Amanda Anisimova arrived at the US Open 2026 in New York with unfinished business — and she wasted no time making her intentions clear. The 25-year-old American, who finished runner-up at Flushing Meadows in 2025, opened her campaign with a commanding straight-sets win over compatriot Ashlyn Krueger, winning 6-1, 6-3 on Monday night (US time) — a result made sweeter by the fact that it doubled as a birthday celebration.

Dominant Opening-Round Performance

Anisimova was clinical from the outset, dropping just four games across two sets against Krueger. The victory was a statement of intent from a player who knows this tournament intimately and is determined to convert a runners-up finish into a maiden Grand Slam title. She next faces Austria's Lilli Tagger in the second round on Wednesday.

What Anisimova Said

Speaking ahead of the tournament, Anisimova drew on the positive associations she carries into Flushing Meadows. 'Yeah, I definitely have a lot of memories from last year, being back here, and this being one of my favourite tournaments. I feel really, really good. I'm excited. It's a new tournament and a new couple of weeks, so who knows what's going to happen,' she said.

On managing the demands of life on tour, she was candid about the balancing act. 'I feel like it can get quite hectic as a tennis player because you kind of have two worlds. I also have a world where I try to stay away from that, just decompress and relax. I'm sort of introverted at times as well. But having events to go to and fun things to look forward to is actually a good distraction from the tournament. It helps take your mind off things and allows you to relax. But yeah, I love it, and I think it's a lot of fun,' Anisimova added.

A Season of Deep Runs

The 2025 season was a breakthrough year for Anisimova by any measure. Beyond her US Open final appearance, she reached the final of Wimbledon 2025 and went deep at the 2025 WTA Finals, where she made the semifinals. Those results propelled her to a career-high ranking of No. 3 in January 2026. She is currently ranked 10th on the WTA Rankings.

The Road Ahead

Anisimova's draw opens up against the relatively untested Lilli Tagger, but the deeper rounds will test whether she can sustain the consistency that defined her 2025 run. Notably, converting Grand Slam final appearances into titles is a psychological and physical challenge of a different order — one that separates contenders from champions. With form, motivation, and home-crowd energy all aligned, she enters this fortnight as one of the genuine title threats.