“Amanda Anisimova withdraws from the Rome Open due to a wrist injury.”

Amanda Anisimova withdraws from Rome Open at the last minute: left wrist injury halts American star

The day before a highly anticipated match against former Roland Garros champion Jelena Ostapenko, Amanda Anisimova saw her plans abruptly dashed. The young American tennis player, who has been struggling through a 2026 marked by injuries and setbacks, had to announce her withdrawal from the Rome Open at the last minute due to a left wrist injury that prevents her from competing.

This setback comes at a critical moment in the season, with the Roland Garros tournament rapidly approaching and Anisimova yet to step onto a clay court in 2026. The prolonged absence of the Russian-American, a former world number three, raises concerns about her physical and competitive form during a period that was expected to be pivotal for her career.

It is worth noting that Anisimova had a dream 2025, reaching consecutive Grand Slam finals at Wimbledon and the US Open, as well as winning two WTA 1000 titles in Qatar and Beijing. Expectations were high for her to continue her ascent in 2026, but reality has been harsh. A quarter-final finish at the Australian Open was followed by a withdrawal in her title defense in Qatar. Then, a defeat in the semi-finals in Dubai to Jessica Pegula and two exits in the round of 16 in the Sunshine Circuit showed that the athlete is far from her best.

The injury to her left wrist has been Anisimova’s main adversary at the start of this season. After withdrawing from the Charleston Open, she was also forced to pull out of the Stuttgart and Madrid tournaments, accumulating a streak of withdrawals that has raised concerns among fans and tennis experts worldwide. Her presence at the Rome Open was a positive sign, as the player had been training on site and was preparing to face a challenging test against Ostapenko. However, the pain and inability to compete led her to make the difficult decision to withdraw, even after waiting until the last moment.

The one benefiting from this situation is Elena-Gabriela Ruse, who enters the competition as a lucky loser, replacing Anisimova and receiving an unexpected opportunity to shine against a former winner of Roland Garros.

Amanda Anisimova’s future remains uncertain, with wrist recovery being a priority for her to return strong. Until then, the absence of the young American prospect on the clay court circuit continues to be one of the major topics of the 2026 tennis season.

This article first appeared on [Apito Final](https://apitofinal.pt/).