The tennis players Sofia Kenin and Amanda Anisimova, who are currently competing in Paris, are Russian immigrants representing the United States.
Both Sofia and Amanda were coached by their fathers and grew up in South Florida, a hub for tennis talent. They drew inspiration from Maria Sharapova, an exceptional tennis player who also immigrated to the United States and trained in South Florida. Maria paved the way for Kenin and Anisimova, showing them that their dreams were achievable.
At just 20 years old, Kenin is currently ranked 35th in the world. She made headlines by defeating Serena Williams at the Roland Garros Tennis Open. Kenin has displayed impressive hand-eye coordination since the age of 5 and has mastered English fluently, despite learning it at a later age than most Americans.
Anisimova, equally talented, reached the round of 16 and outplayed Aryna Sabalenka. Anisimova’s parents moved to the United States when she and her sister were young, prioritizing their children’s future. Initially, Anisimova trained with her mother, but her dad eventually took the lead in her tennis development. Anisimova’s family emphasizes not overburdening her with excessive workouts and matches due to her young age.
Kenin and Anisimova, while respectful towards each other, are not particularly close off the court.
