15-year-old Amanda Anisimova will play in her first grand slam main draw after winning the USTA’s French Open wild card play-off.
The wild card is awarded to the player who accumulates the most points over a four week-period. It is applicable to any American player who plays a clay court event at a Challenger level or above for men or a $60,000-and-above ITF event for women.
Anisimova raced to the top of the rankings after reaching back-to-back finals in Indian Harbour Beach and Dothan in April. Her place at Roland Garros was secured when Victoria Duval, Anisomova’s closest threat, withdrew from an ITF event in Charleston on Thursday.
The wild card has placed Anisimova’s name in the record books. Not only is she one of the youngest players to play in the main draw of a grand slam in recent years. She will also be the first born after 2001. The accomplishment eclipses Australia’s Destanee Aiava, who was the first player born after the year 2000 to play in a grand slam. At the start of the year Aiava lost in the first round at the Australian Open to Germany’s Mona Barthel.
Tennys Sandgren is currently leading in the race for the men’s wild card. The place in Roland Garros is between him and Bjorn Fratangelo.
Who is Amanda Anisimova?
The daughter of Russian immigrants, Anisimova has already excelled on the junior tour. At last year’s French Open, she became the first American to reach the final of the girls draw since 2002. A former junior world No.2, the American has won 69 out of 90 singles matches played.
Her coach Nick Saviano praised the 15-year-old during an interview with The Sun Sentential last year. Speaking about Anisimova’s achievements at such a young age, Saviano believes she has the potential to reach the top of the women’s tour.
“She’s aspiring to be a top world-class player. So she shouldn’t be surprised by those kinds of results,” said Saviano. “She’s pursuing being the best she can be. Wherever that takes her in these tournaments, but she should expect to do well.
“She’s got potential to be a highly ranked world-class player.”
This season has seen Anisimova reach three ITF finals on the pro circuit, winning 12 out of 16 matches. She is currently ranked 264th in the world, three places below her career best.
