Anisimova gains new Brazilian fans after Miami mixed doubles

The American tennis star saw a boost in popularity after teaming up with rising Brazilian star Joao Fonseca.

Mar. 23, 2026 at 10:53am

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Amanda Anisimova has opened up about an unexpected benefit from her recent partnership with Joao Fonseca at the Miami Invitational last December. The pair faced off against Carlos Alcaraz and Jessica Pegula in a high-profile mixed doubles exhibition match, which Anisimova says helped her gain a new fanbase among Brazilian supporters thanks to Fonseca's rapid rise in popularity. Anisimova also stated that she expects to play more mixed doubles going forward, as she continues to get more comfortable with the format.

Why it matters

Anisimova's partnership with the popular Brazilian player Joao Fonseca allowed her to tap into a new audience and expand her fanbase, which can be valuable for a rising tennis star like herself. Mixed doubles also provides Anisimova with a chance to gain more experience in a format she doesn't typically play, which could benefit her overall game.

The details

Anisimova and Fonseca faced off against Carlos Alcaraz and Jessica Pegula in a mixed doubles exhibition match at the Miami Invitational last December. While they ended up losing the match, Anisimova says the experience allowed her to gain a significant number of new Brazilian fans thanks to Fonseca's growing popularity in his home country. Anisimova also stated that she expects to play more mixed doubles going forward, as she continues to get more comfortable with the format after her recent outing at the 2025 US Open, where she reached the round of 16 with partner Holger Rune.

  • Anisimova and Fonseca teamed up at the Miami Invitational in December 2025.
  • Anisimova's most recent official mixed doubles outing was at the 2025 US Open.

The players

Amanda Anisimova

An American professional tennis player who has seen a rise in popularity and fanbase after her mixed doubles partnership with Joao Fonseca.

Joao Fonseca

A rising Brazilian tennis player whose rapid ascent has helped boost Anisimova's popularity, particularly among Brazilian supporters.

Carlos Alcaraz

A Spanish professional tennis player who faced off against Anisimova and Fonseca in the mixed doubles exhibition match at the Miami Invitational.

Jessica Pegula

An American professional tennis player who partnered with Alcaraz in the mixed doubles exhibition match against Anisimova and Fonseca.

Holger Rune

A Danish professional tennis player who partnered with Anisimova in her most recent official mixed doubles outing at the 2025 US Open.

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What they’re saying

“Yeah, that was a lot of fun. I feel like I gained a lot of Brazilian fans because I played with Joao for the mixed doubles, so it was a lot of fun.”

— Amanda Anisimova

“Yeah, I love playing mixed doubles. I know I normally do not play a lot of doubles, but I'm getting more comfortable with it, getting more used to it. But yeah, it's always a lot of fun.”

— Amanda Anisimova

The takeaway

Anisimova's partnership with the rising Brazilian star Joao Fonseca allowed her to tap into a new audience and expand her fanbase, which can be valuable for a young tennis player looking to grow their profile. Additionally, Anisimova's increased comfort and experience in mixed doubles could benefit her overall game as she continues to explore the format.