All Hail the Meme Queen: Why Amanda Anisimova Is So Viral

Amanda Anisimova's expressive on-court reactions have made her one of the most recognisable personalities on the WTA Tour, with her facial expressions regularly becoming viral moments on social media. The American has now embraced the "Meme Queen" tag, a nickname that was given to her by fans and celebrated by her fellow players at the 2026 US Open.

Anisimova's 25th birthday at Flushing Meadows provided another example of how the nickname has become part of her tennis identity. After beating fellow American Ashlyn Krueger 6-1, 6-3 in the first round, she was serenaded by the Louis Armstrong Stadium crowd. Earlier in the day, the USTA had decorated her locker with a collection of her most famous viral expressions, alongside a "HBD Meme Queen" sign.

Why is Amanda Anisimova called the 'Meme Queen'?

The nickname stems primarily from Anisimova's highly expressive personality on court. Frustration, disbelief, amusement and concentration often show clearly on her face during matches, creating photographs and clips that quickly spread across social media.

Anisimova has admitted that she has always been an emotional player and sometimes makes expressions she does not even realise she is making. What was once an embarrassing part of her teenage years has gradually become something she can laugh about.

She recalled first becoming aware of the phenomenon after the 2017 French Open, when she was just 17. Following her semi-final defeat to Ashleigh Barty, photographs capturing her range of emotions circulated online.

"I was mortified," Anisimova said, recalling how she initially wanted to stop making such expressions. Years later, however, she sees the funny side of them.

Amanda Anisimova's viral reactions

Anisimova's facial expressions have become a recurring source of memes among tennis fans. Her reactions during matches often capture the emotional extremes of professional tennis, from frustration after an error to disbelief at a point or call.

Rather than attempting to control that part of her personality, Anisimova has increasingly embraced it.

She has also joked that her sense of humour could have something to do with her love of The Office. Asked what makes her so "meme-able", she pointed to the sitcom as a possible explanation.

"Maybe I've just morphed into one of those characters," she said.

The Red Bull 'beer' meme

One of Anisimova's most recent viral moments came at the Cincinnati Open, when she was seen drinking from a clear plastic cup during a match.

The cup was partially concealed beneath her towel, leading viewers and commentators to speculate that she was drinking beer during the match. The mystery quickly became one of the tournament's biggest social-media talking points.

Anisimova later clarified that the drink was actually Red Bull.

She admitted she had deliberately tried to keep the drink discreet, only for the attempt to have the opposite effect.

"I thought nobody was going to see it," she said. "It obviously ended up being the biggest thing of the week."

The incident only added another chapter to her growing "Meme Queen" reputation.

Why did Anisimova's US Open locker say 'HBD Meme Queen'?

Anisimova's fellow WTA players have also embraced the nickname.

For her 25th birthday, Mirra Andreeva and Daria Kasatkina took a selfie in front of Anisimova's US Open locker after it had been decorated with photographs of her various viral reactions.

The locker featured a "HBD Meme Queen" sign, turning what began as an internet joke into a playful tribute from her peers.

Anisimova said she found the gesture amusing and appreciated the effort from Andreeva and Kasatkina.

Anisimova has learned to embrace the memes

The "Meme Queen" label represents a notable shift in how Anisimova views her public image.

When she was younger, seeing photographs of her exaggerated reactions online made her uncomfortable. Now, she sees them as an extension of her personality and something that fans enjoy.

"I can't help it. It's who I am," she has said.

That willingness to embrace the joke has arguably made the nickname stick. Rather than being defined solely by her results on court, Anisimova has developed a distinctive personality that resonates with tennis fans beyond the matches themselves.

Amanda Anisimova's US Open 2026 campaign

The meme-filled birthday came alongside an important result for Anisimova. The No. 10 seed defeated Krueger in straight sets to reach the second round of the US Open.

Anisimova was a finalist at the US Open last year and will next face Austrian teenager Lilli Tagger as she looks to make another deep run in New York.

For now, however, her 25th birthday has provided another reminder that Amanda Anisimova is not only making headlines for her tennis. Her expressive personality has made her a social-media favourite - and firmly established the American as the WTA Tour's "Meme Queen."