“She looks like she’s playing incredibly”: Amanda Anisimova evaluates Serena Williams form after practice appearance

Amanda Anisimova spoke at length about Serena Williams during her Queen’s Club Championships press conference, framing the American legend’s return to competition as a central talking point of the week – as she gave her perspective after seeing her practicing on the training courts.

Anisimova, the second seed in London and world No. 5, described Williams’ comeback after four years away as something the entire tour is closely observing. The 23-time Grand Slam champion will return to competitive action in doubles alongside Victoria Mboko, with a first-round match scheduled against the third seeds Erin Routliffe and Nicole Melichar-Martinez.

Anisimova’s comments came as she prepared to open her own Queen’s campaign against either Laura Siegemund or British wildcard Francesca Jones. The American enters as one of the main contenders in a field led by Elena Rybakina, carrying both ranking expectations and the pressure of defending significant points from her 2025 grass swing.

Her remarks on Serena Williams were delivered alongside reflections on her own recent clay-court campaign, which ended at the French Open in the third round after a physically compromised defeat to Diane Parry. The contrast between recovery, ranking pressure, and admiration for Williams formed the backdrop of her press conference.

Anisimova’s most direct and expansive comments were reserved for Serena Williams, whose return has quickly become one of the dominant storylines of the grass season. The Queen’s second seed emphasised both personal admiration and the wider significance of Williams’ presence back on tour after a four-year absence.

She placed Williams within a generational framework of influence, describing her as a defining figure in her development as a player “I grew up idolising her and she’s always been someone I looked up to. She’s a true legend of the sport," Anisimova stated in press conference. "So honestly, I think we’re all in awe of her here. Just seeing her back and having this comeback is so incredible.”

Anisimova also referenced direct observation of Williams during Queen’s practice sessions, underlining how integrated the comeback has become within the tournament setting itself.

“I was out there on the grass doing the rest of my warm-up and she was playing some doubles. It’s honestly super special to see her back here again. She looks like she’s playing incredibly. I don’t think any of us are surprised by that.”

Beyond the Williams narrative, Anisimova enters Queen’s with significant competitive stakes. As world No. 5 and second seed, she is positioned immediately behind Elena Rybakina in the draw hierarchy, with a potential opening match against either Laura Siegemund or Francesca Jones.

The 25-year-old American faces a demanding challenge: preparing to arrive in good form for Wimbledon – where she was a finalist in 2025 and defends a large number of points. She needs to put together a strong campaign at SW19 and quickly accumulate points in the weeks prior, as her position inside the top 10 could also come under risk.

The two-time Grand Slam finalist endured a difficult clay swing that kept her out for several tournaments and she only competed in two clay events: Rome and Roland Garros. “Mentally it’s not easy being out with an injury. At the same time, I’m healthy now and I’m here, so I’m really looking forward to playing.”

In any case, on grass she hopes to return with confidence and add wins on a surface that brought her strong results in 2025. “I do love the grass season. It’s a very short one, but I try to make the most of it when I do play. And yeah, it’s just great to be back.”