LONDON — Amanda Anisimova, ranked 12th in the world, is on the brink of a Wimbledon title after her stunning semifinal victory over top-ranked Aryna Sabalenka on Thursday. The 21-year-old will face No. 8 Iga Swiatek in the final on Saturday, with the chance to capture her first Grand Slam title.
This achievement is made even more remarkable given Anisimova’s journey, which includes a two-year hiatus from tennis to focus on her mental health. Her incredible comeback makes her Wimbledon run an inspiring tale of resilience.
Mental Health Struggles and Time Away from the Court
In May 2023, Anisimova opened up about her struggles with mental health and burnout, writing on social media that she had been battling these issues since the summer of 2022. After her first-round loss at the Madrid Open that same year, she decided to take an indefinite break from the sport.
“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,” Anisimova shared on Instagram.
This decision was a surprise for many, given Anisimova’s previous success in the sport. At only 17 years old, she had already made it to the French Open semifinals in 2019, defeating major players like Simona Halep and Sabalenka. Despite this early success, Anisimova recognized that her mental health needed to come first.
During her break, she found solace in her passion for art, a hobby that helped her reset and gain a new perspective.
“It was something that I really enjoyed off the court… it felt like I was doing something other than tennis,” Anisimova explained. “It was nice to have a few interests outside of tennis.”
Anisimova’s Impressive Return
Anisimova made her return to competitive tennis at the 2024 Auckland Open and began to rebuild her career step by step. Her hard work paid off when she reached the quarterfinals at the Washington Open in 2024, marking her first quarterfinal appearance since 2022.
She also made it to the final at the Canadian Open, defeating Sabalenka along the way, which helped her climb back into the top 50 of the WTA rankings.
Her breakthrough moment came in February 2024, when she won her first WTA 1000 title at the Qatar Open, propelling her back into the top 20. Her success continued with a final appearance at the Queen’s Club Championships, where she claimed the No. 12 seed, her highest ever before Wimbledon.
Anisimova Reflects on Her Comeback
After her semifinal win over Sabalenka, Anisimova expressed disbelief at how quickly she had reached the Wimbledon final. She acknowledged that her year-long journey had been filled with challenges, but her success showed that prioritizing her well-being had paid off.
“To be in the final is just indescribable, honestly,” she said after the match.
Reflecting on her decision to take time away from the game, Anisimova emphasized how special it felt to prove the doubters wrong.
“A lot of people told me that you would never make it to the top again if you take so much time away from the game,” she shared. “Just me being able to prove that you can get back to the top if you prioritize yourself [has] been incredibly special to me.”
Looking Ahead to the Final
Anisimova’s path to the Wimbledon final has been an inspiring story of personal growth and professional resilience. On Saturday, she will face Iga Swiatek, who has been one of the sport’s dominant forces in recent years.
While Anisimova has already proven that she can overcome adversity, winning Wimbledon would solidify her return to the sport as one of its brightest stars.
