Was Amanda Anisimova drinking a beer as commentators notice bizarre occurrence during impressive Eala Cincinnati win
WTA
Amanda Anisimova was in a titanic battle against Alexandra Eala in the third round of the Cincinnati Open. It was a rollercoaster from start to finish with the American eventually prevailing 4-6, 6-4, 6-2. From a weird conversation with her coach to drinking what many people thought was a beer, she made the headlines again enroute to the win.
This is a huge boost for the two-time Grand Slam finalist who has a lot of points to defend in the near future and is in desperate need of any sort of momentum and form. Aside from a semi-final in Dubai, she has not made it past the fourth round of a Masters 1000 tournament this year.
Her win over Alexandra Eala has boosted her chances of this. The inform Filipina was always going to be a tricky draw for Anisimova and it looked like the 21-year-old would pick up another huge win following the first set display. However, Anisimova rallied and managed to pull off a significant win.
No fighting spirit with her drink of choice confirmed
Throughout the match, a lot of things occurred in the Anisimova camp. Following the first set loss, she had a conversation with her coach, Hendrik Vleeshouwers. The duo had split earlier in the year but has since reunited at the North American hardcourt swing.
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Talking about that hugely important fighting spirit needed on court to push through the boundaries, it was clear that Anisimova was lacking it. "Not much fighting spirit, so yeah," the 24-year-old stated.
Vleeshouwers was confused and queried this statement. "You have no fighting spirit?" To which Anisimova responded: "Not in the first set, I guess. I lost."
She would rally and get herself back into the contest, with thanks to a special drink she had by her side. In one of the changeovers, she was caught picking up a plastic up from underneath her towel which got many fans speculating.
The reason for this is due to it looking exactly like beer. That would be a very unusual liquid to have while competing. Turns out it was not beer, but instead Red Bull. The energy drink giving her that important and instant boost on court to keep her focused and awake. It worked as she stormed her way past Eala in a dominant third set to confirm her best ever result at the Cincinnati Open.
Tennis Channel commentators debating what Anisimova is drinking in the 3rd set against Alex Eala in Cincinnati
— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) August 18, 2026
😭😭😭😭😭😭😭 pic.twitter.com/AsCxboIYLa
Delighted to advance with Wimbledon champion up next
In her on-court interview after the match, Anisimova shared her delight following that magnificent comeback win against one of the most inform and dangerous tennis players currently competing. "I'm really happy with the way I was able to find my game in the middle of the match," Anisimova said.
"Alex is a really tough player, so I knew it was going to be a tough challenge for me. So just really happy with the way I was able to find my tennis and play aggressive and turn it around."
It does not get any easier for the two-time WTA 1000 title winner. She will clash against the Wimbledon champion Linda Noskova for a spot in the quarter-final of the Cincinnati Open. The Czech is starting to find her feet again after that hugely taxing and emotional success at SW19. She fended off Katie Boulter and Clara Tauson without dropping a set and will fancy her chances against Anisimova.
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Their last meeting was in the final of the China Open, where Anisimova won the title in a three-set contest. Anisimova was relishing the test.
"I think it's going to be great to see where my tennis is at," she continued. "She's obviously fresh off of a Grand Slam win, so playing some great tennis. I'm going to see it as another challenge and opportunity for me to kind of find my game again. I'm really looking forward to it."

Lucas MichaelTennis Journalist
Lucas Michael is a tennis journalist based in Cambridge, UK, specializing in comprehensive coverage of the ATP and WTA tours. For the past 1.5 years, he has been a core contributor to TennisUpToDate, where he has authored more than 3,000 data-driven match reports, deep-dive analysis pieces, and engaging liveblogs.
Lucas pairs real-time statistical analysis with on-the-ground reporting, frequently traveling to tournaments to cover the action firsthand from the press box and player press conferences. This blend of advanced metrics and direct access allows him to provide sharp context regarding player form, tactical trends, and breaking tour developments.
He holds a BA (Hons) in Sports Journalism. Grounded in core journalistic ethics, Lucas places a strict emphasis on meticulous sourcing, editorial accuracy, and a commitment to updating live content swiftly as verified information emerges.
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mandoist06-11-2026 - Enough of her bullshit. Go marry someone.
mandoist06-11-2026 - Don't you just love this young lady!? We fans often expect athletes to be supermen and superwomen, often forgetting that they WILL GET TIRED! I love Alex's perspective. Tiredness for an athlete should never be viewed as a negative, especially if you are healthy, taking care of your body and mental health and putting in the work. What a mature perspective. Good for you, Alex!Rapunzel05-11-2026
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mandoist05-11-2026 - Okay... someone with a camera was EAVESDROPPING on a private conversation. Shouldn't that be the point of discussion here? Regardless of the sensationalist crap by media, Pegula (and anyone) has a right to an opinion. There used to be an expectation that private conversations were respected, regardless of 'stardom' and whatever other defensive excuses media tries to shove in our faces. Boo-hoo if feelings are hurt. BTW: Having been employed at various tourney venues, etc., I can't tell you how nasty and offensive players can be when discussing their opponents and colleagues... in "private". Well, I could, but won't. I also challenge anyone to deny what Jessica said is false.
mandoist05-11-2026 - Vacherot is Mongasque, rather than Swiss. The tournament was Swiss :DTrwd7702-11-2026








