American tennis player Amanda Anisimova’s incredible comeback from the abyss. She’s made it past the quarterfinals of Wimbledon to the semifinal for the second time in her career. Anisimova made her own claim for a place in the last four, brushing aside Russian Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova 6-1, 7-6. This accomplishment marks a career-best performance so far for Anisimova. To date, she’s ranked No. 12 in the world, a mere heartbeat away from her career-best ranking.
Anisimova’s road to this point has been littered with obstacles. Earlier this year, though, she took her third career singles title at the WTA 1000 event in Doha. This win underscored her fierce determination and remarkable artistry. The trip has definitely not been smooth sailing. As of May 2023, she fell to No. 442 in the world and shared on social media that she was taking a break to take care of her mental health and work through burnout.
A Journey of Resilience
In May 2023, Anisimova took to Instagram to share her decision to step away from tennis, stating, “It was just something that I needed to do kind of for myself.” After a disappointing opening-round loss at the Madrid Open in April, she knew it was time to take a break. Physically, competing at the elite level had worn on her.
Looking back on her time away from the sport, Anisimova said that break was critical for her mental health. “I think it was just more of a necessary thing to kind of reset with where I was at in my life and career-wise,” she noted.
Returning to the WTA Tour in January 2024, Anisimova faced the challenge of rediscovering her game while navigating the complexities of being an athlete. As she put it, it’s a struggle, no doubt about that, the peaks and valleys of her return to athletic prominence. Through all of this difficulty, she noticed her self-assurance steadily increasing as she worked out hard and concentrated on her overall health.
Family Support and Celebration
Anisimova’s recent success has been even more compounded by the presence of her family. After her win over Pavlyuchenkova, she partied with her camp. She teared up while hugging her four-year-old nephew, Jaxon, who’d flown in to see her match. Anisimova, it fills her with indescribable happiness knowing that her family has supported her all the way. Her sister and brother-in-law helped her celebrate by traveling with her, which added to the memorable trip.
In a heartfelt moment, Anisimova expressed gratitude for having her family by her side during this significant time in her career. That emotional support has been incredibly important as she’s faced both victory and tragedy during this tournament.
“It’s been an extraordinary year for me. So many highs. It’s just been such a ride, and I’ve been enjoying every step of the way.” – Amanda Anisimova
Upcoming Challenge
Looking ahead, Anisimova faces a formidable opponent in world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka, a three-time Grand Slam champion with whom Anisimova shares a competitive history. Anisimova holds a 5-3 advantage in their career head-to-head matchups, making for an interesting pitch to their upcoming clash.
Anisimova said it’s true that they bring out the best in each other. We tend to take it up a notch when we play against each other,” she said of their rivalry. She is looking forward to returning to that challenge, which awaits her on the court again.
As she gears up for such an important tournament, Anisimova can’t help but look back on her trek. She reflects on how far she has come since her battle with mental health issues earlier this year. The upcoming semifinal represents an opportunity to advance further in Wimbledon and solidifies her status among the top players in women’s tennis.
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