Surprise result as McCartney Kessler beats Amanda Anisimova in AO Women’s Charity Exhibition
WTAWednesday, 14 January 2026 at 22:30
Exhibition matches have begun at the Australian Open, with the One Point Slam stealing the spotlight at the start of Fan Week — although it was not the only event on the schedule. On this opening day, American players Amanda Anisimova and McCartney Kessler faced each other, with the latter claiming a surprise victory at the AO Women’s Charity Exhibition.
The two Americans had met only once before earlier in the 2025 season, at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships, just two days after Anisimova captured her first WTA 1000 title at the Doha Open. Fatigue may have played a role on that occasion, as Anisimova — despite arriving in strong form — was defeated in the first round, 2-6, 3-6.
This time, they met in an exhibition match, far removed from the intensity the Australian Open will bring starting next week. World No. 37 McCartney Kessler took the opening set 6-3, before world No. 4 Amanda Anisimova responded with the same scoreline in the second set.
After an hour and a half of play, the match was decided in a third-set super tie-break, where Kessler produced the upset by defeating the two-time Grand Slam runner-up: 6-3, 3-6, [10-7].
Anisimova’s build-up to Melbourne
Anisimova chose to play just one warm-up tournament ahead of the Australian Open, competing at the Brisbane International. There, she opened with a 6-1, 6-3 win over Kimberly Birrell, before falling in the second round to 16th seed Marta Kostyuk, 4-6, 3-6.
Anisimova will arrive in Melbourne chasing her first major title, having reached the finals of Wimbledon and the US Open in consecutive seasons, where she was defeated by Iga Swiatek and Aryna Sabalenka, respectively.
Star-studded exhibition line-up continues
On Thursday, another pair of exhibition matches will be played on Rod Laver Arena. First up will be 24-time Grand Slam champion and 10-time Australian Open winner Novak Djokovic, who will face American Frances Tiafoe. Once that match concludes, world No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz will take on home favourite and Australian No. 1 Alex de Minaur.
Friday will feature another blockbuster exhibition, with two-time defending champion Jannik Sinner facing world No. 7 Felix Auger-Aliassime. On Saturday, there will be a double-header exhibition, with Jasmine Paolini taking on Elena Rybakina, followed by Alexander Zverev against Lorenzo Musetti.
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