Amanda Anisimova reveals her honest opinion about Emma Raducanu ahead of their Australian Open 2R clash

American sensation Amanda Anisimova breezed into the second round of the 2025 Australian Open with an impressive straight-sets 6-2, 6-3 win over Maria Carlé. After the match, the American revealed that her next opponent, the British player Emma Raducanu, is a close friend and sometime practice partner.

Raducanu's progress to the second round was far more complicated. She served up 15 double faults en route to a 7-6, 7-6 victory over 26th seed Ekaterina Alexandrov, acknowledging in the aftermath that she'd suffered from nerves and a lack of pre-tournament preparation due to a foot injury.

The 23-year-old Anisimova said about meeting Raducanu in the next round:

"I've never played her before but she's obviously a great player; a very intelligent player. I'm sure it'll be a very tough match. I'm looking forward to it. She's a friend of mine, so it will be interesting. I'm sure we will give it our all, and I'm looking forward to the battle." [04:33]

The two players had similar introductions to the tour, bursting onto the scene as teenagers. World No. 37 Amanda Anisimova, now 22, won the 2017 US Open girls' singles title and then logged her first top-10 victory at the 2018 Indian Wells Open, where she beat Petra Kvitova at just 16. She then took the scalp of World No. 11 Aryna Sabalenka to reach the fourth round at the 2019 Australian Open.

Emma Raducanu's emergence was even more dramatic when she came through qualifying as an unknown 18-year-old to win the 2021 US Open. The Brit has failed to match that early promise since being plagued by injuries and setbacks, but Anisimova has no doubts about her opponents' qualities.

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Amanda Anisimova says her friendship with Emma Raducanu won't affect their second-round match

Amanda Anisimova at the 2025 Australian Open - Day 3 - Source: Getty

Anisimova said about meeting Raducanu in the next round in her press conference at the 2025 Australian Open:

"We've both been around the tour; we're the same age. We also have a mutual friend - Priscilla Hon - so, we've hung out a few times all together. She's a nice girl. She's always bringing a good energy into the room, so I'm sure it'll be a good match." [05:00]

Asked whether their friendship would alter how she approached the match with Raducanu, the American was clear that while it gave some insight into the British player's game, it wouldn't affect the outcome.

"I've definitely practiced with her quite a few times so that's really the only times I've seen her or play against her, because I've never played her in a match," Amanda Anisimova said. "It's kind of random. I don't think practicing with her changes the outcome. Practicing with her gives me more of an idea of how she plays."

Raducanu and Anisimova meet in the second round on Thursday, January 16.