When Amanda Anisimova speaks, there is an atmosphere of calm; a palpable sense of comfort in one’s own skin.
In a sport like tennis that can take its heroes from one emotional extreme to the other, week after week, Anisimova has worked hard to appreciate the ups, downs and moments in between while staying true to herself.
A former teenage prodigy who turned pro at 15 and reached the French Open semi-finals at just 17, Anisimova stepped away from her professional career for eight months in 2023, citing burnout and mental health issues.
It was a brave decision considering that athletes are always encouraged to overcome challenges and persevere; a decision that ultimately paid off in many ways.
Today she is ranked No. 4 in the world and is making her first WTA Final appearance in her career after a successful season in which she reached the Wimbledon and US Open finals and won a pair of WTA 1000 crowns.
Looking back on her 2025 campaign, Anisimova says her biggest lesson came from her mental approach.
“I would say the mindset with which I go into tournaments and matches. I think that's been 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.
“It certainly helps when I finish a tournament being able to look back and tell myself that I did my best. And I'm proud of how I competed and carried myself on the court. And that's definitely something I've tried to do all year long.”
There's a lot to admire when it comes to Anisimova, whether it's her powerful first-shot tennis style, her devastating backhand, or her openness when discussing her vulnerability. But the moment that truly epitomized her strength of character came when she lost the Wimbledon final 6–0, 6–0. Ige Swiatek in Judli.
Tennis hands the microphone to its athletes immediately 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 flown in that morning to watch her daughter compete in her first Grand Slam final.
The speech resonated with countless viewers, including many of her peers.
“I think she did it with such grace, she did so well,” said world No. 7 Madison Keys, who is also playing in Riyadh. “I know it's such a heartbreaking situation to be in that position. I think the way she carried herself through it with such grace impressed me beyond belief.”
What Anisimova did next was no less impressive. Just 53 days after a devastating loss to Swiatek, she flipped the script and defeated the Polish star en route to the US Open final. At the start of the Open, Anisimova said she was hoping for a rematch, and she got her wish in the quarterfinals.
Anisimova lost to Arina Sabalenka. in the final in New York but bounced back impressively to win the WTA 1000 title in Beijing just four weeks later.
“Of course, it wasn’t easy,” Anisimova said, recalling her summer. “I had to really work on myself mentally and just put things into perspective and sit down with myself and think about how I'm going to bounce back or how I'm going to compete in the next few tournaments, especially if I have to face it. [Swiatek] again.
“But I think it all came naturally to me. I didn't really think about anything. It was just like it was a new tournament, a new day and a new match. That's how I approached it, really.”
Anisimova had to endure several difficult circumstances from a young age. In addition to struggling with the lifestyle and stresses of being a teenager on tour, she lost her father, Konstantin, a week before her 18th birthday.
When asked where she gets her strength, Anisimova says, “Everything that I've been through in my life. I think going through certain situations and things and being able to heal from that is where I really work on myself. I think that's where I get that mentality from. And I'm also surrounded by very strong women. So I think it's a combination of a few things.”
Anisimova is driven by a simple idea: she wants to be “the best athlete she can be.” She admits nerves played a role in both finals she lost at majors this year and is doing everything she can to address the issue. She's also learned to watch for signs of burnout and tries to take a short break or plan a longer break when she feels really tired.
“I think I managed to balance my time on and off the court really well this year,” she added.
Anisimova has great chemistry with her team and they all try to have fun together, both on and off the court.
Before the protests began in Riyadh, they walked through the dunes in the Saudi desert. She was the only one who refused the camel ride: “I felt so sorry for them when I got there. We did it once. Normally I wouldn't support treating animals like that,” she explains. She opted for an ATV instead.
Anisimova believes that having the right people around her is crucial, but more importantly, she believes that young up-and-coming athletes should be encouraged to take responsibility for their career decisions.
“When you do so well at a young age, there's obviously a lot of pressure and expectation placed on you,” she says. “And a lot of new things that you've never encountered before. And that's a lot for a young child who isn't fully developed yet, not even close to fully developed. So it's definitely a lot.”
“And I would say the young girls on tour right now are doing a great job of it. 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 let girls or boys know so they can make good decisions for themselves and listen to themselves rather than trying to say yes to everything and feeling like you have to do certain things.
“I think it's killer in a way, just feeling like you have to do certain things and it can really lead to burnout. So it's definitely something I would do differently.”
Since returning to tour after a break, Anisimova has received numerous messages from people telling her how much they can relate to her struggles and how inspiring their journey is.
She finds that she connects most with people who have shared their journeys and takes pride in being able to provide that for others.
“Just being able to relate to certain people that way is something special, even if you don't really know them. So for me to be able to do that with other people was one of the most special things this year for me,” she says.
Showing strength in vulnerability is ultimately the message she hopes to convey to the world through her life as a professional tennis player.
“I think I'm just being myself this year, in every situation I've been in or where I've had to speak freely, and I'm really just trying to be as authentic as I can,” Anisimova says. “And I think that really touched a lot of people and it really showed that it's okay to be vulnerable and it's okay. And I think the biggest thing for me this year has been just being myself and speaking honestly and freely. And that's exactly what I try to do.”
