Amanda Anisimova Powers Past Tiantsoa Sarah Rakotomanga Rajaonah To Advance To Next Round Of French Open
Two months away from competition usually leaves even elite tennis players looking a little shaky. Amanda Anisimova looked exactly that way for about a set on Monday in Paris. Then suddenly, she looked like a player nobody wants to see across the net at the French Open.
In her first match back after a lengthy layoff, Anisimova survived an early scare before rolling past hometown hopeful Tiantsoa Rakotomanga Rajaonah in straight sets at the French Open. The slow start had fans wondering if the rust would linger. Instead, the American flipped a switch, settled into her rhythm, and reminded everyone why she remains one of the most dangerous shot-makers on clay when healthy and confident.
Anisimova Overcomes Early Nerves In Return To Competition
The opening stages looked rough. There’s no sugarcoating it. Anisimova sprayed errors, struggled with timing, and appeared uncomfortable during several long rallies. That’s expected after being sidelined for nearly two months, but the match changed midway through the opening set.
Anisimova began stepping into her groundstrokes with more authority, started dictating points from the baseline, and completely shifted the energy on court. Once she found her range, Rakotomanga Rajaonah simply couldn’t keep up with the pace coming from the other side of the net.
And honestly, that’s what makes Anisimova so intriguing when she’s healthy. Few players can flatten out a backhand quite like she can. When she’s confident, the ball jumps off her racket with the kind of violence that makes opponents look stuck in quicksand.
There were still moments of rust. A few shaky service games. Some impatient decisions. But the overall trajectory was encouraging. By the second set, Anisimova looked far more like a legitimate contender than a player trying to survive her first match back. That is a scary development for the rest of the women’s draw.
Why This Roland Garros Return Matters
This wasn’t just another first-round win. Anisimova has long been viewed as one of the sport’s most naturally gifted players, particularly on clay. Tennis fans still remember her breakthrough run in Paris years ago when she stunned the field with fearless shot-making and composure far beyond her age.
Since then, her career has been filled with flashes of brilliance mixed with frustrating interruptions, injuries, and inconsistency. That is part of why this comeback matters so much. Women’s tennis has been searching for players who can consistently challenge the top names at majors, and Anisimova has always possessed that ceiling. Her ability to take the racket out of opponents’ hands makes her dangerous against absolutely anybody.
What Happens Next?
Now comes the real test. Winning your first match back is important. Winning consistently after time away is a completely different challenge. The encouraging sign for Anisimova is that her level improved as the match went on instead of fading physically. That suggests the conditioning and preparation behind the scenes may already be ahead of schedule.
Her next opponent will likely try to extend rallies, force movement, and test her endurance. That’s the blueprint against a player returning from a layoff. Expect opponents to make Anisimova work for every point instead of allowing her to dictate quickly. Still, if she continues serving well and striking the ball cleanly, she becomes one of those dangerous unseeded-style threats nobody wants to draw.
Frequently Asked Questions
What happened with Anisimova?
Amanda Anisimova returned to competition after nearly two months away and defeated Tiantsoa Rakotomanga Rajaonah in straight sets at the 2026 French Open after overcoming a slow start.
Why is Anisimova trending?
Anisimova is trending because fans were eager to see how she would perform in her first match back from a layoff. Her strong finish and dominant play after early struggles generated major attention during Roland Garros.
What happens next?
Anisimova advances to the next round of the French Open, where she will face Julia Grabher.
Looking Ahead
Amanda Anisimova’s return to Roland Garros started with uncertainty and ended with a reminder of just how dangerous she can be when her game clicks into place. The rust was obvious early, but so was the talent that’s made tennis fans believe in her potential for years.
If this opening-round performance was merely the warm-up act, the rest of the women’s field should pay attention. When Anisimova starts striking the ball with confidence on clay, matches can get out of hand fast.
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