Amanda Anisimova: "It made me really sad" to see Mirra Andreeva emotional in Dubai

After winning an epic quarterfinal against defending champion Mirra Andreeva at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships on Thursday, Amanda Anisimova couldn't stop thinking about her opponent.

After seeing Andreeva come back from 5-3 down in the third to force a winner-take-all tiebreaker, Anisimova confessed she was almost in tears. But when Andreeva's final backhand went long to hand Anisimova the hard-fought  2-6, 7-5, 7-6(4) win, the 18-year-old could hardly contain the emotions of seeing her chance to become the first woman since Elina Svitolina in 2017-18 to win Dubai in back-to-back years end.

She doubled over with her hands on her knees, and after hugging it out with Anisimova, left the court teary-eyed. And in her on-court interview, the American offered a metaphorical shoulder to cry on.

"It was such a tough battle, and I thought we played incredible tennis," Anisimova, who has been open about her own mental health struggles, said. "Seeing Mirra down like that, it's understandable. We both fought so hard today, and it made me emotional seeing her like that. She was playing so well, she's the defending champion and I feel like we both won on the court today. These type of matches, it's always tough that someone has to lose at the end of the day."

In her press conference, Anisimova expanded on what she said on court, saying that Andreeva is doing "all the right things" despite the dramatic defeat, and two earlier-than-expected exits from her last two events following a title at the Adelaide International.

Q. You seemed really touched by when she broke down at the end. Can you talk about that moment.

AMANDA ANISIMOVA: Yeah, made me like really emotional because I feel like we both sort of felt that way throughout the match probably because it was such a roller coaster, so up and down. Despite whichever way it was going, I feel like we were both fighting with everything we had and trying our best.

Yeah, it's not easy to see someone that gives their all and then to react like that. It made me really sad for her. In my mind, I was just, like, thinking if she keeps playing like this, there's a title around the corner for her. Obviously she's going to have a great year. She seems to be doing all the right things. Yeah, not easy to be a defending champion. But I feel like she did an amazing job.

Yeah, that's kind of why I felt like that. I mean, there will be many more matches for us to come, I'm sure.

For a spot in the final, Anisimova will face No. 4 seed Jessica Pegula, who topped No. 12 seed and defending finalist Clara Tauson in another three-set quarterfinal. Anisimova will hope for some revenge after losing in two sets to Pegula in the quarterfinals of the Australian Open.

"I feel like that feels like such a long time ago for me because every week we have a lot going on. There's so many practices, so many matches," Anisimova said.

"I'm feeling, like, a lot better, like I said, every single day here. I feel like I've been going into the right direction. I'm really happy with the things I'm working on and the progress I've been making since I finished Australia. I'm excited at the end of the day. It's another challenge for me, another opportunity for me to learn more about myself and my game and see how things have changed since that match that I played at Australia.

"Overall, I mean, [there's] nothing that I can really lose at the end of the day. I feel like I've done well here this week. It's another chance for me to see how I've developed as a player and give my best."