Tennis Star Amanda Anisimova Announces Change Amid Tough Season

Originally posted on The Spun | By Chris Rosvoglou | Last updated Mar 27, 2026 9:52 AM ET

American tennis star Amanda Anisimova isn't going to wait for her 2026 season to magically turn around.

Anisimova rose to No. 3 in the world rankings last season due to her incredible runs at Wimbledon and the US Open. Although she entered this year with a ton of hype, she hasn't been able to sustain that level of play.

Less than three weeks ago, Anisimova suffered a straight sets loss to Victoria Mboko in the Round of 16 at Indian Wells. She was hoping to bounce back at the Miami Open, but Belinda Bencic defeated her 6-2, 6-2 this past Monday.

Amanda Anisimova waves to fans after defeating Emma Raducanu during their third-round match at the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells, Calif., Sunday, March 8, 2026.© Andy Abeyta/The Desert Sun / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images.

On Friday morning, Anisimova announced that she's parting ways with her coach, Rick Vleeshouwers.

"It’s been quite the ride and journey together. Last year holds so many special moments and achievements together that I will never forget," Anisimova wrote. "We picked up some trophies and incredible milestones, but all the laughs and behind the scenes moments I’ll carry with me even more. Thank you Rick, thank you for everything you’ve done for me. For seeing and treating me as a human first, before an athlete. That meant the world to me, and made for a great partnership. Your dedication, loyalty, and passion is undeniable! I wish you nothing but happiness and success in whatever comes next for you in this chapter!"

Vleeshouwers also posted a lengthy message on Instagram about their split.

"All good things come to an end, and today marks the closing of an incredible chapter," Vleeshouwers said. "Over the past two years, we’ve reached so many milestones , winning two 1000s, making back to back Grand Slam finals, and reaching world No. 3. I’m incredibly proud of what we built, but even more for the journey we shared along the way, the hard work, new experiences , the challenges, the laughs and the moments that people don’t always see. I will always carry these memories with me."

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The road ahead for Anisimova.

It's no secret that Anisimova can make a run at the French Open. She reached the semifinals of that Grand Slam tournament in 2019. Her most recent results, however, haven't been as promising.

Anisimova struggled at times during the 2025 clay court season. Although she reached the fourth round at Roland-Garros, the buildup to that tournament wasn't ideal. After all, she suffered a second-round loss to Peyton Stearns at the Madrid Open.

We'll see if Anisimova can turn things around before the French Open in May.

This article first appeared on The Spun and was syndicated with permission.

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