Amanda Anisimova Calls Out Reporter for “Clickbait” Question

American tennis player Amanda Anisimova has responded sharply to a reporter’s “clickbait” question regarding the U.S. team under Trump at the Australian Open. She emphasized that it’s her “right” to refrain from commenting on political matters.

Following her fourth-round victory over Wang Xinyu, Anisimova was asked about how she was managing the “discourse” around her, particularly regarding her and other American tennis players’ thoughts on representing the U.S.

“Honestly, I find the internet challenging. I deal with it at work, but sometimes it just bothers me a bit,” she noted.

After the match, Anisimova further discussed the incident with the reporter, identified as Owen Lewis, a freelance journalist. She stated, “In other press conferences, I chose not to answer questions that seemed aimed at creating headlines or clickbait, and that was my prerogative. It had nothing to do with my political stance.”

Earlier, she was asked how it felt to “play under the American flag now.” She replied, “Since I was born in America, I’m always proud to represent my country. Many of us are excelling, and it’s great to see so many talented athletes, both women and men. I believe we’re all doing a fantastic job of representing ourselves.”

Later, when the journalist modified his question to ask if recent events in the U.S. complicated her feelings, Anisimova dismissed the relevance of that angle. “I don’t think that matters,” she countered.

In her statements to reporters recently, Anisimova criticized fans who presume to know her political views based on her reactions. “It’s incorrect that people assume they understand where I stand on sensitive topics. That’s just not true. It’s tough, but I’m learning to cope with it.”

Many social media users, including former American tennis stars John Isner and Tennis Sandgren, defended her stance and criticized the reporter’s approach, which also affected other American players like Taylor Fritz.