Amanda Anisimova is competing in the Wimbledon final after overcoming difficulties in her life
American tennis sensation Amanda Anisimova secured her spot in a first Grand Slam final of her career after sensationally beating Aryna Sabalenka in the semis at Wimbledon. It followed a quarter-final victory over Russia’s Anastasiya Pavlyuchenkova. Anisimova couldn’t hide her elation during the tournament, expressing pure joy.
“It’s been an extraordinary year for me,” she confessed during her post-match interview on Tuesday. “So many highs. It’s just been such a ride, and I’ve been enjoying every step of the way.”
In a heartwarming gesture, she also brought her four year old nephew, Jaxon, onto the court, leaving the crowd utterly charmed by his presence.
She is playing Iga Świątek in the final on Saturday but suffered a disastrous opening set, losing 6-0.
The 23 year old previously made headlines by reaching this stage of the French Open back in 2019 when she was merely 17. Despite rising to fame during that time, tragedy struck as Konstantin, her father and coach, passed away suddenly from a heart attack just before her 18th birthday.
Her profound loss led to a withdrawal from the US Open that particular year, reports the Mirror.
“It was the worst thing that ever happened to me,” Anisimova recounted to the New York Post in 2020, reflecting on the devastation of her father’s death. “It was very tough.”
The ensuing years saw her performance fluctuating between triumphs and setbacks.
The year following her father’s passing, it’s believed Anisimova found some joy in her personal life when she began a relationship with Australian Tyler Roos. The son of AFL icon Paul Roos, Tyler was an athlete himself, playing for the Southport Australian Football Club at the time, as well as being a model and featuring in Season 4 of ‘The Amazing Race Australia’.
The pair are reportedly still an item.
Despite continuing her tennis career, Anisimova made the decision to retire from the sport in May 2023, citing mental health concerns. “I’ve really been struggling with my mental health and burnout since the summer of 2022,” she disclosed.
“It’s become unbearable being at tennis tournaments. At this point my priority is my mental well-being and taking a break for some time,” she elaborated.
Anisimova discovered solace in painting, which became her new pastime, aiding in relaxation and improving her mental state. She initiated the Art for Hope campaign, with proceeds from her artwork sales benefiting mental health organisations.
Returning to Wimbledon in 2024, Anisimova exited in the qualifying stages but took the opportunity to speak with ESPN about the significance of nurturing all aspects of one’s health.
“You can struggle with your mental health. It’s just as important as your physical health,” she declared. When queried on her decision to make a comeback, she disclosed: “I always knew deep down that no matter how long I was gonna take off, I was gonna come back to the tour.
“I still felt like there were so many things I wanted to achieve in the sport. Winning a Slam is definitely one of them, and I didn’t wanna walk away so early after sacrificing so much of my life and working so hard,” she continued. “Once I came back, I found this new passion for it. I feel like it’s a passion I didn’t feel back then or maybe when I was a teenager. Every win is that much more special now.”
Addressing the value of openness and vulnerability, she identified the often-taboo subject: “We’ve seen a lot of players struggle with that.
“It’s a super important thing. I think a lot of teams are starting to understand what it takes to create more happiness in the players’ lives. I’ve seen a lot of teams doing a great job with their players. It’s important to have fun on and off the court.”
