"I think she is knocking on the door" - Vandeweghe and Annacone pick Anisimova over Rybakina for Grand Slam triumph in 2026

Amanda Anisimova and Elena Rybakina both go into 2026 with firm aspirations of picking up a Grand Slam title. They will both be fighting it out for the Australian Open with the first major of the year fast upon us. Coco Vandeweghe and Paul Annacone have both stated who they think is more likely to win a major title between them.

Both players had very contrasting 2025 campaigns. Anisimova took the tennis world by storm, with some of her runs unexpected as they were brilliant. The American showed her credential after winning the Qatar Open, her maiden WTA 1000 title. The form she showcased as a talented youngster was starting to creep through for everyone to see on the big stage. She almost produced the goods at Wimbledon, picking up a famous win over world number one Aryna Sabalenka in the semi-finals before a heartbreaking 6-0, 6-0 trouncing by Iga Swiatek in the final saw her first Grand Slam final go as bad as it could have gone.

Her mentality was heavily questioned, could she come back from this horrendous result. The answer was a very defiant yes. She got over her previous woes against Swiatek, defeating the Pole in the US Open quarter-finals on the way to reaching a second consecutive major final. Unfortunately, she was once again beaten at the final hurdle, this time by Sabalenka who had plotted revenge. She won her second WTA 1000 title in the China Open, before making it out of her group on debut in the WTA Finals.

She came second in that group, just behind the eventual champion Rybakina. Her talent has never been doubted, but it has been seldom in recent years. The Kazakh overcame previous troubles with her coach Stefano Vukov. The Croatian coach was previously suspended but had returned to the sport, with Rybakina welcoming him back with open arms.

She finished the season with a floury. A title in the Ningbo Open boosted her chances of qualifying for the WTA Finals, with a semi-final in the Pan Pacific Open enough to earn a ticket to Riyadh. She did that, and instantly pulled out from competing in Tokyo as she has other things on her mind. The 26-year-old won her group undefeated before defeating Jessica Pegula in a tight semi-final clash. She then got the better of Sabalenka in straight sets to clinch the title and a whopping $5 million.

Former Australian Open semi-finalist Vandeweghe was on the fence about both, believing that they both have the goods to pick up a Grand Slam title. However, she just leaned towards with her fellow countrywoman. "I would love to say both, but If I had to choose one I would to go with a first Slam for Amanda Anisimova, which would be an amazing story," she told Tennis.com. "Anisimova finished at No. 359 in the WTA rankings at the end of 2023. Two years later, she finishes at No. 4 with back-to-back Grand Slam final finishes. But both women definitely have it in them to do next year."

Roger Federer's former coach was also in the Anisimova camp. Annacone believed she had the goods to pick up a first major title in the new year. "I have loved what we've seen from Amanda Anisimova. I think she is knocking on the door, and she is my vote for a major victory next year."

Anisimova's last two Grand Slams have resulted in finals, an incredible result from both events. Beforehand in 2025 she reached the second round in the Australian Open and the fourth round at Roland Garros, where she is a previous semi-finalist back in 2019.

Rybakina has also made it to a brace of Grand Slam finals, but she has a title to her name. She came from a set down to defeat Ons Jabeur in the 2022 Wimbledon final. A few months later, she almost repeated the goods at the Australian Open but failed to get the better of Sabalenka, this time squandering a one-set lead.

The duo will both make their return to action in a highly competitive Brisbane International, commencing from January 5-11. They will then eye up major glory in the Australian Open as the comeptition heats up Down under from January 18 - February 1.