Before she shocked the world, United States tennis star Amanda Anisimova sent her best friend, Australian player Priscilla Hon, a text message

“It was unpleasant at times because so many people were constantly bringing it up, and even the day that I had to play her at US Open, they were showing replays of the final on every single TV,” Anisimova said.

“But I am a person who loves challenges and seeing if I can do the impossible, I guess … I think that has 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 thrill in it.”

Anisimova proved it was no fluke, repeating the dose on Swiatek in the round-robin stage of the WTA finals in November.

“I messaged her after the Wimbledon final,” Hon said. “Because the last thing you want is for her to be down. She literally just made a final.

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“Yeah, it sucks how it went, but how insane that she even got there … then to that quickly turn around [and beat Swiatek] shows how strong she is, mentally. To overcome that on such a big stage at the US Open, her home slam, was massive.”

The origin of their friendship is a qualifying match they played in San Jose in 2018. Barely a month later, they crossed paths again at a tournament in Hiroshima, Japan.

Anisimova asked Hon for a pre-tournament hit, and the rest is history. The practice session went so well that Anisimova wondered if they could be practice partners for the entire week.

“Pri was like, ‘What? Why would we hit every single day?’,” Anisimova recalled, laughing. “But we really got on at that practice – and we’ve been best friends ever since.”

In a cut-throat tennis world where players often view each other only as foes and stay at arm’s length, Anisimova and Hon – who made her top-100 debut last year – are kindred spirits. They repeatedly reference each other’s support in press conferences, although typically only as “my best friend”.

If you hear them say that, you now know who they are talking about (sometimes, Hon is referencing another tennis star, Karolina Muchova, who she played doubles with in Brisbane this week).

But it was Anisimova who Hon was referring to when she told this masthead at Wimbledon last year about a best friend whose words of encouragement helped the Queenslander qualify at 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 to see her 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 real tennis friend I have, and I love being the cheerleader [for her].”

Anisimova visited Hon’s Brisbane apartment for the first time this week, where they drank coffee and binge-watched comedy series I Love LA, a choice the Australian approved of, given the dual grand slam finalist’s usual preference for thriller or horror flicks.

Months had passed since the close friends from opposite sides of the planet last saw each other.

At age 27 and after injury and personal setbacks, Hon’s top-100 breakthrough in October was significant. However, she dreams of being in the same elite company on court as Anisimova and Muchova.

“After my US Open result, then Beijing as well, I felt a lot more that I belonged,” Hon said. “I definitely believe that I can be [a top player]. As long as I’m healthy, my mentality going into matches is very different now.”

As for world No.3 Anisimova’s self-professed “tainted” Wimbledon experience, she hopes to one day rewrite history with a more favourable memory.

There was un unfortunate reminder about a month ago when a package arrived at her home. Anisimova hoped it was the shoes she had ordered, only for it to actually be a teary photo from Wimbledon – sent by a well-meaning tournament official – that has become a meme on social media.

But first things first, the 24-year-old, who also made the Roland-Garros semi-finals at age 17 in 2019, would love to win her maiden slam title at this month’s Australian Open.

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Anisimova, who lost her father Konstantin in 2019 and took a mental health break from tennis in 2023, has reached the last 16 at Melbourne Park three times, including four years ago when she had a stint with Australia’s Darren Cahill as her coach.

“I’ve had nothing but great memories every time I’ve gone to Australia, and I really love playing here,” she said.

“I always get to see Darren, too, which is a plus. He’s a great coach and a great person. The time zone is a bit difficult because I don’t get to really talk to my family, but I love it, and it would be a dream to win the Australian Open one day.”