“It was annoying sometimes because so many people kept reminding me, and even on the day I was supposed to play her at the US Open, they were showing the final on every TV,” Anisimova said.
“But I’m a person who loves a challenge and seeing if I can do the impossible, I think… I think it’s always helped me in those high-stress situations. That’s why I love this sport – because you’re always facing obstacles like that and I find a lot of excitement in it.”
Anisimova proved that it was no accident when she repeated the dose against Swiatek in November’s WTA finals.
Anisimova (right) is the best friend of Australian tennis player Priscilla Hon (left).Credit: Instagram
“I messaged her after the Wimbledon final,” said the Hon. “Because the last thing you want is for her to be down. She literally made the finals.”
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“Yeah, it sucks how it went, but how crazy that she even got there… then she quickly turned around. [and beat Swiatek] it shows how mentally strong she is. To top it on such a big stage at the US Open, her home Slam, was huge.”
The origin of their friendship is the qualifying match they played in San Jose in 2018. Barely a month later, they crossed paths again at the tournament in Hiroshima, Japan.
Anisimova asked Hon for a pre-tournament hit and the rest is history. The practice was going so well that Anisimova wondered if they could be training partners for the week.
“Pri was like, ‘What? Why would we fight every day?'” Anisim recalled with a laugh. “But we really continued that practice – and we’ve been best friends ever since.
In the cut-throat world of tennis, where players often see each other as enemies and stay at arm’s length, Anisimova and Hon – who debuted in the top 100 last year – are kindred spirits. In press conferences, they repeatedly refer to each other’s support, though usually only as “my best friend”.
If you hear them say it, now you know who they’re talking about (sometimes Hon refers to another tennis star, Karolina Muchova, with whom she played doubles in Brisbane this week).
But it was Anisima Hon was referring to when she recounted a best friend at Wimbledon last year whose words of encouragement helped the Queenslander qualify for the 2024 US Open, a feat she repeated in 2025 before advancing to the third round.
“I always want the best for her and I want her to do well,” Anisimova said of Hon.
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“I kept telling her, ‘See, you’re so good, you can do it’. She’s the only true tennis friend I have, and I love being a cheerleader.” [for her].”
Anisim visited Hon’s apartment in Brisbane for the first time this week, where they drank coffee and watched sitcoms I love LAa choice the Australian approved of given that the dual Grand Slam finalist usually prefers thrillers or horror.
Months had passed since the close friends from opposite sides of the planet had last seen each other.
At the age of 27 and after injuries and personal setbacks, Hon’s breakthrough into the top 100 in October was significant. However, she dreams of being on the court in the same elite company as Anisimová and Muchová.
“After my result at the US Open, then also in Beijing, I felt much more that I belong here,” said Hon. “I certainly believe I can be [a top player]. As long as I’m healthy, my mentality going into games is completely different now.”
Hon and Anisimova at an event in California in 2019.Credit: Getty Images
As for world No. 3 Anisimov’s admittedly “tainted” Wimbledon experience, he hopes to one day rewrite history with a more favorable memory.
An unfortunate reminder came about a month ago when a package arrived at her home. Anisim had hoped it was the shoes she had ordered, only for it to be a tearful photo from Wimbledon – sent by a well-meaning tournament official – that became a meme on social media.
But first, the 24-year-old player, who also reached the semifinals of Roland-Garros in 2019 at the age of 17, would like to win her first slam title at this year’s Australian Open.
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Anisimova, who lost her father Konstantin in 2019 and took a mental break from tennis in 2023, reached the round of 16 at Melbourne Park three times, including four years ago when she coached Australian Darren Cahill.
“I’ve had nothing but great memories every time I’ve gone to Australia and I really enjoy playing here,” she said.
“I also see Darren all the time which is a plus. He’s a great coach and a great person. The time zone is a bit difficult because I can’t really talk to my family, but I love it and it would be a dream to win the Australian Open one day.”
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