From exhaustion to brilliance: Amanda Anisimova on how honesty led to her remarkable renaissance | Tennis

There is an air of calm surrounding Amanda Anisimova when she speaks; A clear feeling of comfort in her own skin.

In a sport like tennis that can swing its champions from one emotional state to the next, week after week, Anisimova has worked hard to appreciate the highs, lows and moments in between, all while staying true to herself.

A former teenage prodigy, Anisimova turned professional at the age of 15 and reached the semi-finals of the French Open at just 17. She stepped away from the professional circuit for eight months in 2023, citing burnout and mental health concerns.

It was a bold decision, given the way athletes are always encouraged to move forward in their struggles and cling to the past; A decision that ultimately paid off in more ways than one.

Today she is No. 4 in the world and competing in the WTA Finals for the first time in her career on the back of a remarkable season that saw her reach the finals of Wimbledon and the US Open and snatch a pair of WTA 1000 crowns.

Looking at her 2025 campaign, Anisimova says the biggest lesson has to do with her mental approach.

“I would say the mentality with which I go into tournaments and matches. I think that’s the most important thing for me this year,” the 24-year-old American told The Guardian on the sidelines of the WTA Finals in Riyadh.

“Obviously when I finish the tournament, it helps to be able to look back and tell myself that I did everything I could. I’m proud of the way I competed and carried myself on the court. That’s definitely something I tried to do all year.”

There’s a lot to admire when it comes to Anisimova, whether it’s her powerful first-time tennis technique, her devastating backhand, or her openness when discussing her weaknesses. But the moment that truly summed up her strength of character came when she lost the Wimbledon final 6-0 6-0 to Iga Swiatek in July.

Tennis hands the microphone to its players moments after a painful defeat and expects them to give a meaningful speech. Fighting back tears, Anisimova addressed the crowd on Wimbledon’s Center Court with heartfelt words for Swiatek, the fans and her mother Olga, who had traveled that morning to watch her daughter compete in her first Grand Slam final.

This speech resonated with countless people who watched it, including many of her peers.

“I thought she did it with such grace, she handled it very well,” said world number seven Madison Keys, who is also playing in Riyadh. “I know being in this situation, it’s a heartbreaking situation. I’m incredibly touched by the way she carried herself with such grace.”

What Anisimova did next was equally impressive. Just 53 days after her crushing loss to Swiatek, she flipped the script and defeated the Polish star on her way to the US Open final. At the start of the Open, Anisimova said she was hoping for a rematch and got her wish in the quarterfinals.

Anisimova lost to Aryna Sabalenka in the final in New York, but rebounded in stunning fashion by winning the WTA 1000 title in Beijing just four weeks later.

“Of course, it wasn’t easy,” Anisimova said, reflecting on her summer. “I had to really work on myself mentally and put things into perspective and sit with myself and think about how I’m going to recover or how I’m going to go through the next few tournaments, especially if I have to play them. [Swiatek] once again.

“But I think everything was normal for me. I didn’t really think about anything. It’s like it’s a new tournament, it’s a new day and a new match. That’s really the way I did it.”

Anisimova had to go through many difficult circumstances from a young age. Along with struggling with the lifestyle and pressures of being a teenager on tour, she lost her father Konstantin one week before her 18th birthday.

When asked about the source of her strength, Anisimova said: “Everything I’ve been through in my life. I think I’ve been through certain situations and things and I’ve been able to heal myself from that in a way and really work on myself. I think that’s where I get that kind of mentality. And I’m surrounded by very strong women as well. So, I think it’s a combination of things.”

Anisimova starts from the simple idea of ​​wanting to become “the best athlete ever.” She admits nerves played a role in both her Grand Slam final losses this year and is doing everything she can to address the issue. I’ve also learned to watch for signs of fatigue, and try to take a short break, or plan a longer break, whenever I feel too tired.

“I think I’ve done a really good job of balancing my time on and off the field this year,” she added.

Anisimova has great chemistry with her team, and they all make sure they can have a good time together, on and off the court.

Before the event started in Riyadh, they went dune driving in the Saudi desert. She was the only one who chose not to take part in the camel ride – “I felt so sorry for them when I got there,” she explains. “We did it once. I don’t normally support animals being used in that way.” I went for an ATV instead.

Anisimova believes having the right people around her was key, but more importantly, she believes up-and-coming young athletes should be encouraged to take charge of their career decisions.

“When you’re doing well at a young age, there’s obviously a lot of pressure and expectations,” she says. “And a lot of new things that you’ve never tried before. And that’s a lot for a little kid who’s not fully developed, like he’s not even close to being fully developed. So it’s definitely a lot.”

“And I would say the younger girls on the tour now are doing a great job at balancing and managing that. I think the one thing I would say is important is the people you surround yourself with and the guidance and advice.

“I think it’s really important to tell girls or boys to make the right decisions for yourself and listen to yourself and not try to say yes to everything and feel like you have to do certain things.

“I think that’s a big killer in some ways, is just feeling like you have to do certain things and that can really lead to burnout. So, that’s definitely something I would have done differently.”

Since returning to the tour after the break, Anisimova has received dozens of messages from people telling her how much they relate to her struggles, and how they find her journey inspiring.

She finds herself more connected to people who have shared their journeys, and is proud to be able to provide that to others as well.

“Just being able to connect with certain people in that way is something special, even if you don’t really know them. So for me, being able to do that with other people has been one of the most special things for me this year, for sure,” she says.

Showing strength in weakness is ultimately the message she hopes to convey to the world through her life as a professional tennis player.

“I think that, being myself this year, in every kind of situation that I’ve been in or where I’ve had to speak freely, I really try to be as honest as possible,” Anisimova says. “And I think that got through to a lot of people and really showed that you can be vulnerable and that’s okay. And I think that’s the most important thing for me this year is to really be myself and speak openly and freely. And that’s exactly what I’m trying to do.”