Months before the lights came up at Flushing Meadows, Anisimova initiated a different kind of doubles project at the Miami Open. Pairing with Brazilian prodigy Joao Fonseca was an explosive proposition. Both players possess heavy, modern groundstrokes and natural aggression from the baseline. Fans anticipated raw pace, and the duo delivered precisely that.
In post-match comments covered by Yahoo Sports in March 2026, Anisimova openly reflected on what changed after sharing the court with Fonseca. Playing beside a player with effortless power and relentless optimism forced her to abandon second-guessing on serve returns. Mixed doubles traditionally places severe tactical pressure on the female player's service games, yet Fonseca’s coverage at the net allowed Anisimova to swing without reservation.
The Miami matches served as a testing lab. Anisimova used Fonseca's blistering baseline exchanges to sharpen her own reaction times against incoming ATP-level serves. The experience dismantled the lingering hesitation that had occasionally stalled her deep tournament runs on the WTA Tour, showcasing how strategic doubles appearances directly feed singles form.
