Amanda Anisimova has new perspective at US Open…
It is a component of her story, proper along with that powerhouse of a backhand.
Over two years in the past, Amanda Anisimova took a mental health break from tennis. She was away from the game for eight months, from May 2023 until January 2024, focusing on herself.
As she has skyrocketed in the rankings with her superb play, all the best way to No. 7 in the world, the questions keep coming about that time away from the court.
AP
After the No. 8 seed Anisimova’s straight-set 6-3, 6-2 victory over Kimberly Birrell at Louis Armstrong Stadium on Tuesday, one of the questions in her on-court interview was about that time off.
She didn’t hesitate to reply.
“I like to talk about it, and for sure, it is special,” said Anisimova, who is coming off a beautiful run to the Wimbledon ultimate. “If I can contact anybody’s life in that sense and if anybody can relate to me in that manner, then that makes me very comfortable.
“It is a very frequent topic, for sure. I mean, I’m honored to be able to talk about it, and I try to be as honest as I can. If someone asks me any questions, I always try my best to answer them as well as I can.”
Amanda Anisimova (USA) returns a volley against Kimberly Birrell (AUS) during day three of the US Open Tennis Championships. JASON SZENES/ NY POST
Anisimova was a teenage phenom, reaching the 2019 French Open semifinals at the age of 17. She turned the youngest American lady to advance to a Grand Slam semifinal since Venus Williams at the 1997 U.S. Open.
In August of that 12 months, she misplaced her beloved father and coach, Konstantin Anisimova, to a coronary heart assault. The next few years, her play faltered and her well-being suffered.
A break was needed. Anisimova bought skilled help — she still sees a trauma-specialized therapist who helps her with anxiety — and the 23-year-old American believes it’s a major half of her breakthrough season.
“Obviously, it served me [well], and I’m really happy with the choice that I made,” she said. “It’s clearly paying off now, and I feel like I have a whole new perspective when I step onto the court. Even on regular days or training days, I think I appreciate the process a lot more than I used to.”
A great instance of that was how she dealt with her loss to Iga Swiatek in the Wimbledon ultimate, the uncommon double bagel.
Anisimova was emotional afterward, thanking while also apologizing to the Wimbledon followers, shedding tears as she praised her mom, Olga, complimenting her opponent and expressing hope to get back to that stage someday.
“When I left the locker room, I was just happy with the way I was able to carry myself because that was the only thing in my control,” she said.
Anisimova is hoping to construct off of Wimbledon at the U.S. Open. She has never superior past the third spherical, which she reached in 2020, but she appears more outfitted to attain the second week than before. Her high rating and her strong Wimbledon don’t create added strain, Anisimova insisted.
Amanda Anisimova of the United States in motion against Kimberly Birrell of Australia in the first spherical of the ladies’s singles at the US Open. Mike Frey-Imagn Images
She instead sees it as optimistic momentum.
“I would say it’s more exciting. I’m excited to be here. I feel good. I have confidence, and I love playing here,” she said. “So if something, I just embrace where I’m and where my rating is at when I step onto the court and just attempt and use it to my benefit.
“I mean, I’m feeling good, and I’m excited to be through to the next round. Hopefully, I can keep playing better and better.”
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