American tennis professional Amanda Kay Victoria Anisimova addressed public discussions surrounding her physical appearance on Tuesday, September 22, 2026, firmly rejecting claims that she used weight-loss medications. The statement was issued while the world number 11 was in Kallang, Singapore, where she also confirmed her withdrawal from competition.
The 25-year-old took to social media to confront a surge of online posts comparing earlier images of her career with her current physique. Frustrated by recurring speculation regarding her health and fitness routine, Anisimova demanded an immediate end to unsolicited commentary from social media users.
“To all the health experts and professional body commentators in the comments, I’m not using Ozempic, please leave me alone and out of your unique posts,” Anisimova stated via an Instagram story, responding directly to users who attributed her transformed appearance to pharmaceutical products.
Wrist injury halts Singapore campaign
The public clarification coincided with an unexpected sporting setback in Southeast Asia, where Anisimova had arrived as the second seed for the WTA 500 Singapore Open. A left wrist injury forced the American to withdraw from the main draw before playing her opening match on Tuesday, September 22, 2026, altering the competitive schedule for the event.
Following her official withdrawal, tournament organizers adjusted the bracket by awarding a lucky loser spot to Slovakian player Viktoria Morvayova, who stepped in to take Anisimova’s place in the singles draw. The physical setback extended a challenging stretch for the American athlete, whose previous competitive appearance concluded on Saturday, September 5, 2026, with a third-round elimination against Anastasia Potapova at the US Open.
Career timeline and season records
Anisimova has experienced substantial shifts in her professional journey over recent seasons, transitioning between career-defining performances on tour and periods of rest required to manage off-court pressures.
- 2023: Paused competitive tennis to care for mental health after enduring online abuse and body shaming.
- 2025: Reached the finals of Wimbledon and the US Open, while claiming WTA 1000 titles in Doha and Beijing.
- January 2026: Achieved a career-high ranking of world number 3 following a quarterfinal run at the Australian Open.
- September 2026: Holds the number 11 ranking on the WTA tour with a seasonal record of 22 victories and 12 defeats.
History of online pressure and past hiatus
Scrutiny over physical conditioning is an issue Anisimova has encountered before during her professional career. In 2023, the American took an extended break from professional tennis to protect her mental health after facing persistent harassment and commentary regarding her physical form and tournament outcomes across multiple digital platforms. That personal hiatus allowed her to recover and mount an impressive return in 2025, which saw her reach two Grand Slam finals and establish herself as one of the tour’s top performers.
Her resurgence peaked early in 2026 with her ascent to the third spot in the global rankings. However, the subsequent reappearance of before-and-after image comparisons across digital networks led the athlete to reassert personal boundaries while managing her athletic commitments.
Uncertain schedule ahead of Beijing
The exact date of Anisimova’s return to competitive action remains unconfirmed, as her availability depends on medical assessments and the recovery process of her left wrist injury. The next major stop on the Asian swing is the China Open in Beijing, scheduled to begin on Wednesday, September 30, 2026, where the American remains uncertain to participate as clinical evaluations continue.