Amanda Anisimova is into the fourth round of Australian Open 2026 following a 6-1 6-4 win over compatriot Peyton Stearns in an all-American clash.
MORE: All the scores from AO 2026
Almost exactly one year ago, Anisimova was hovering outside the world’s top 30. As the 2026 season began, she reached a career-high ranking of world No.3 and now sits comfortably at No.4. And as 4th seed she is contesting this year's Australian Open at her highest seeding at a Grand Slam.
Stearns went into the matchup leading 1-0 in the pair's head-to-head, the result of a three-set win in Madrid last year. Anisimova evened the score on Saturday with a straight-sets victory.
Anisimova’s deadliest weapon, her double-handed backhand, teamed with her devastating groundstroke pace helped her wrap up the match in just one hour and 11 minutes.
“It's just always been my best shot,” she said of her backhand.
“I love using it. I love going line, but I also actually like to go cross as well. So, I think it's hard to predict where I'm gonna hit it and that's why I think it makes it so special.”
The Floridian was the third American of the day to move into the last 16, accompanying Jessica Pegula, who defeated Oksana Selekhmeteva, and AO defending champion Madison Keys, who took a 6-3 6-3 victory over Karolina Pliskova.
Saturday's heightened temperature, reminiscent of the outdoor training courts during a steamy Miami summer, wasn’t enough to faze Anisimova.
“I think it's just the fact that we had so many outdoor courts in the summer,” she said.
“It was always so hot. I hated training in the summer, but you know what, at least it paid off a little bit. But it's just great to be playing out here and even when it's so hot, it's nice to have a challenge.”
This marks Anisimova’s 18th consecutive Grand Slam match win. She will also take confidence moving into the second week as the only current player to defeat all four major champions in 2025, having toppled Coco Gauff in Beijing, Aryna Sabalenka at Wimbledon, Iga Swiatek at the US Open and Keys at the WTA Finals in Riyadh.
This may stand her in good stead as she could potentially face the AO defending champion in the quarterfinals. To do that, she must get past the winner of Czechia’s Linda Noskova or China’s Wang Xinyu in the fourth round.
But Anisimova could also face Pegula as a quarterfinal opponent as the No.6 seed meets Keys in the fourth round. Pegula defeated Selekhmeteva 6-3 6-2 in the first match of the day at Margaret Court Arena on Saturday.
The 31-year-old's flat, aggressive game translates well to the hard courts at Melbourne Park, leading to just 12 unforced errors, half the number committed by Selekhmeteva. Despite her opponent’s three aces throughout the match, Pegula’s steady 88 per cent of first serve points won ultimately kept her ahead.
“I played pretty well just based on how I was feeling,” Pegula said. “I wanted to stick to a strategy, but sometimes you go out and you feel something different by the way you're hitting the ball.
“But luckily today, I think everything worked out pretty well.”
Pegula has reached the quarterfinal of all four Grand Slams - three times at the Australian Open. Keys now stands between her and a fourth AO quarterfinal.
“I've been working on my game so much to try to become a better player in all conditions,". Pegula said. "So hopefully I'm just ready for whatever's next.”