Tennis player Amanda Anisimova dismissed a question about “how it feels to play under the American flag right now,” saying it was irrelevant.
Anisimova, 24, took questions from reporters on Tuesday following her victory in the Australian Open over Katerina Siniakova. A reporter told Anisimova that he was “asking a lot of the American players how it feels to play under the American flag right now.”
“I’m curious how you feel,” the reporter said.
Anisimova responded, “I was born in America, so I’m always proud to represent my country. A lot of us are doing really well. It’s great to see a lot of great athletes on the women’s and men’s side.”
Anisimova first played in the U.S. Open at age 14 in 2016. The next year, she went on to win the U.S. Open girls final against fellow American Coco Gauff, who also competed in the Australian Open.
“Just to clarify a little, I mean, sort of in the context of the last year of everything that’s been happening in the US, does that complicate that feeling at all?” the reporter asked.
“I don’t think that’s relevant,” Anisomova said before moving on to another question from a different reporter.
Gauff was also asked the same question and admitted that politics has “fatigued” her.
“I feel a bit fatigued talking about it just because of the fact that it is hard, also, I think being a black woman in this country. Having to experience things even online and seeing the marginalized communities being affected and knowing that I can only really donate and speak out, and I try my best to do that,” she said.
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As of Thursday, Gauff is ranked No. 3 in the Australian Open, and Anisimova is ranked No. 4. Both are undefeated and due to play fellow Americans in their next matches. It remains to be seen whether Anisimova will face off against Gauff.
The reporter asked the political questions on the one-year anniversary of President Donald Trump’s inauguration. Gauff did not give a full-throated endorsement of Trump’s opponent, former Vice President Kamala Harris, but said before the November 2024 elections that she was “inspired” to see a black woman on the ballot.
