Amanda Anisimova advanced to the Round of 32 at the Miami Open with a hard-fought 6-1, 5-7, 6-4 victory over Ajla Tomljanovic on Friday. The American dominated the opening set before Tomljanovic surged back in the second, but Anisimova’s superior second serve performance — winning 58% of those points compared to Tomljanovic’s dismal 35% — proved decisive in the decider.
Anisimova raced through the first set in clinical fashion, but Tomljanovic, fresh off a straight-sets win over Simona Waltert in the previous round, found her range in the second. The Australian’s first serve percentage of 56% matched Anisimova’s 63% well enough to force a deciding set, where momentum swung repeatedly. Tomljanovic’s service struggles resurfaced at the worst moment — her 11 double faults, more than double Anisimova’s four, handed the American crucial free points when the match hung in the balance.
Anisimova sealed the win after two hours and 27 minutes, claiming her 94th point of the match to Tomljanovic’s 85. The victory snaps a recent rough patch for the four-time WTA titlist, who had dropped her last two hard court outings including a quarterfinal exit at Indian Wells.
Key Takeaways
- Anisimova’s second serve was the match’s defining weapon, winning 58% of points compared to Tomljanovic’s abysmal 35% — a 23-percentage-point chasm that decided the tight third set.
- Tomljanovic’s 11 double faults undermined an otherwise competitive performance, gifting Anisimova nearly three times as many free points (four double faults) and sabotaging her ability to hold serve in crucial games.
- Despite losing on first serve points won (44% to 56%), Anisimova’s higher first serve percentage (63% vs 56%) and superior baseline consistency allowed her to accumulate nine more total points (94-85) across the marathon three-setter.
- The statistical context reveals this was no upset — Anisimova averages 5.6 more winners per match than Tomljanovic on hard courts (20.6 vs 15.0), and that offensive firepower carried her through the first-set demolition and third-set closure despite the mid-match wobble.
Player Analysis
Amanda Anisimova
Anisimova’s performance showcased both her immense talent and lingering inconsistency. Her ability to win 58% of second serve points — well above her recent struggles — indicated she was finding depth and placement when forced to the back foot, a promising sign after recent losses to Victoria Mboko and Jessica Pegula. The four double faults remained within her hard court average (4.8), but her 63% first serve percentage actually exceeded her typical 60%, suggesting improved rhythm on serve even as her return game faltered (only 44% of first serve return points won).
What stands out most is her resilience. After dominating the first set with the kind of aggressive baseline play that defines her game, she weathered Tomljanovic’s second-set resurgence without panicking. That mental fortitude — converting pressure into offense when the match tightened — is precisely what’s been missing during her 5-5 recent form. This wasn’t vintage Anisimova, but it was effective enough, and at a tournament where she’s historically struggled, any Round of 64 win builds valuable momentum.
Ajla Tomljanovic
Tomljanovic’s 11 double faults tell the story of a player whose mechanics crumbled under sustained pressure. Despite boasting a superior first serve percentage in her recent form (70% average), she managed only 56% here, and when forced to hit second serves, she won just 35% of those points — a catastrophic rate for a player trying to upset an opponent with firepower like Anisimova’s. Her average of 6.1 double faults per match on hard courts already signals a vulnerability, and Friday’s performance was precisely that weakness amplified at the worst possible time.
Credit where it’s due: Tomljanovic scrapped her way back into the match after the one-sided first set, and her 56% success rate on first serve points won actually outpaced Anisimova’s 44%. But the margins in tennis are unforgiving, and when you’re gifting 11 free points via double faults while your opponent commits only four, you’re playing uphill both ways. Fresh off a confidence-boosting win over Simona Waltert, Tomljanovic showed flashes of the form that’s carried her deep at Grand Slams, but the mental fragility on serve — particularly in the decider — remains a ceiling she hasn’t broken through.
Match Statistics
| Amanda Anisimova | Stat | Ajla Tomljanovic |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | Aces | 2 |
| 4 | Double Faults | 11 |
| 63% | 1st Serve % | 56% |
| 44% | 1st Serve Points Won | 56% |
| 58% | 2nd Serve Points Won | 35% |
| 94 | Total Points Won | 85 |
Frequently Asked Questions
What was the final score of Amanda Anisimova vs Ajla Tomljanovic at Miami 2026?
Amanda Anisimova defeated Ajla Tomljanovic 6-1, 5-7, 6-4 in the Round of 64 at the Miami Open on March 20, 2026.
How many double faults did Ajla Tomljanovic commit against Amanda Anisimova?
Ajla Tomljanovic committed 11 double faults in the match, nearly three times Amanda Anisimova’s four, which proved decisive in the tight three-set contest.
What was Amanda Anisimova’s second serve percentage against Ajla Tomljanovic?
Amanda Anisimova won 58% of her second serve points compared to Ajla Tomljanovic’s 35%, a 23-percentage-point advantage that decided the match.
Who won the Miami Open Round of 64 match between Anisimova and Tomljanovic?
Amanda Anisimova won the match 6-1, 5-7, 6-4, advancing to the Round of 32 at the 2026 Miami Open.
What’s Next
Anisimova advances to the Round of 32, where she’ll look to build on this gutsy win and extend her Miami run beyond the early exits that have plagued her in recent years. The draw remains open, and if she can replicate the second serve effectiveness she displayed here, deeper progress is within reach.
Head-to-head history: Ajla Tomljanovic vs Amanda Anisimova.
