Sixth seed Amanda Anisimova overcame a slow start to defeat Anna Blinkova 5-7 6-1 6-0 at the BNP Paribas Open. The 24-year-old found her rhythm after a difficult first set to win the final nine games of the match. The victory under the lights in Stadium 1 secures her spot in the third round, where she will face Emma Raducanu.
The match lasted 1 hour and 39 minutes. While the 27-year-old Russian took the opening set, the momentum shifted quickly. The New Jersey-born star flipped a switch to adjust to the wind and cold. In contrast, her opponent from Moscow struggled on serve as the match progressed, winning only 17% of her second-serve points.
Anisimova told reporters, “I got used to the conditions a bit and tried to get some energy going. I tried to play more aggressive, which is my game style. I’m just happy I was able to pick it up.” The victory was a major boost for the two time slam-finalist, who has experienced mixed results at this tournament since her teenage debut. Four times she faltered in the second round. Her best result was the fourth round in 2018.
She admitted that the desert courts can be difficult to master. “I kind of have a love/hate relationship with the courts here. I had a great run when I was 16 and played well and really found my rhythm that year and was playing really well and felt really comfortable,” she recalled. As 2026 is just kicking off, she believes the gritty surface can work in her favor: “I’m someone who likes to play on slow courts, as well, so I feel like this tournament can actually suit me very well. Today was a big confidence booster. I was able to figure it out and kind of adjust to the courts.”
Looking ahead, the third-ranked American remains optimistic about her form. “I think I’m a player who can play well on all surfaces as long as I pull all the things together for myself. I love this tournament. Hoping for a longer stay this time, but I’m just enjoying every single day.”
