Amanda Anisimova: From heartbreaking setbacks to the Wimbledon final

Wimbledon final

Wimbledon final, Stunned Sabalenka, “Just indescribable”, Second player in Open era history, Always been expected, US Open girls title, Showing promise, French Open Semis, Mental demons, “Struggling with the lifestyle”, Taking a break, Finding her way back, Back to winning ways, Artist on and off the court, Raising money

After years of heartbreaking setbacks and emotional trauma, American Amanda Anisimova has re-emerged on tennis's biggest stage, earning her spot in the Wimbledon final.

Stunned Sabalenka

Wimbledon final, Stunned Sabalenka, “Just indescribable”, Second player in Open era history, Always been expected, US Open girls title, Showing promise, French Open Semis, Mental demons, “Struggling with the lifestyle”, Taking a break, Finding her way back, Back to winning ways, Artist on and off the court, Raising money

The American stunned world number one Aryna Sabalenka and herself to reach the final, winning 6-4, 4-6, 6-4. She will face Iga Swiatek in her first Grand Slam final.

“Just indescribable”

Wimbledon final, Stunned Sabalenka, “Just indescribable”, Second player in Open era history, Always been expected, US Open girls title, Showing promise, French Open Semis, Mental demons, “Struggling with the lifestyle”, Taking a break, Finding her way back, Back to winning ways, Artist on and off the court, Raising money

According to BBC Sport, Anisimova said: "To be honest, if you told me I would be in the final of Wimbledon, I would not believe you. Especially not this soon. It's been a year since the turnaround. To be in the final is just indescribable, honestly."

Second player in Open era history

Wimbledon final, Stunned Sabalenka, “Just indescribable”, Second player in Open era history, Always been expected, US Open girls title, Showing promise, French Open Semis, Mental demons, “Struggling with the lifestyle”, Taking a break, Finding her way back, Back to winning ways, Artist on and off the court, Raising money

At Wimbledon in 2024, the American lost in the third qualifying round, ranked 191st in the world. She is only the second player in the Open era to reach a women's singles Grand Slam final after losing in qualifying at the previous year's event.

Always been expected

Wimbledon final, Stunned Sabalenka, “Just indescribable”, Second player in Open era history, Always been expected, US Open girls title, Showing promise, French Open Semis, Mental demons, “Struggling with the lifestyle”, Taking a break, Finding her way back, Back to winning ways, Artist on and off the court, Raising money

She may only be 23, but being a Grand Slam finalist for Anisimova has been expected by so many, especially with the way she entered the professional tour as a teenage prodigy.

US Open girls title

Wimbledon final, Stunned Sabalenka, “Just indescribable”, Second player in Open era history, Always been expected, US Open girls title, Showing promise, French Open Semis, Mental demons, “Struggling with the lifestyle”, Taking a break, Finding her way back, Back to winning ways, Artist on and off the court, Raising money

At the age of 15, she was the world junior number two, and in 2017, she lifted the US Open girls' title, beating fellow star Coco Gauff in the final.

Showing promise

Wimbledon final, Stunned Sabalenka, “Just indescribable”, Second player in Open era history, Always been expected, US Open girls title, Showing promise, French Open Semis, Mental demons, “Struggling with the lifestyle”, Taking a break, Finding her way back, Back to winning ways, Artist on and off the court, Raising money

A foot injury hampered her progress, but she quickly recovered in 2019 to become the youngest player to win on the WTA Tour (aged 17), a feat achieved by Serena Williams 20 years earlier. However, her progress didn't stop there.

French Open Semis

Wimbledon final, Stunned Sabalenka, “Just indescribable”, Second player in Open era history, Always been expected, US Open girls title, Showing promise, French Open Semis, Mental demons, “Struggling with the lifestyle”, Taking a break, Finding her way back, Back to winning ways, Artist on and off the court, Raising money

She made a stunning run to the French Open semifinals, carrying her momentum on from her first WTA victory. She beat Simona Halep and Sabalenka along the way, but everything would change for the American teenage prodigy.

Mental demons

Wimbledon final, Stunned Sabalenka, “Just indescribable”, Second player in Open era history, Always been expected, US Open girls title, Showing promise, French Open Semis, Mental demons, “Struggling with the lifestyle”, Taking a break, Finding her way back, Back to winning ways, Artist on and off the court, Raising money

She battled many mental demons on the court and lost herself in the constant madness of travelling and playing tennis all over the world. It wasn't until 2022 that she had another good run in a Slam, reaching the quarterfinals of Wimbledon.

“Struggling with the lifestyle”

Wimbledon final, Stunned Sabalenka, “Just indescribable”, Second player in Open era history, Always been expected, US Open girls title, Showing promise, French Open Semis, Mental demons, “Struggling with the lifestyle”, Taking a break, Finding her way back, Back to winning ways, Artist on and off the court, Raising money

According to the Guardian, Anisimova said: "I was just struggling with the lifestyle and just dealing with a lot of stress from it, and it was affecting me a lot on the court. Especially towards the end of the year (2022). I think it was taking away from a lot of the joy."

Taking a break

Wimbledon final, Stunned Sabalenka, “Just indescribable”, Second player in Open era history, Always been expected, US Open girls title, Showing promise, French Open Semis, Mental demons, “Struggling with the lifestyle”, Taking a break, Finding her way back, Back to winning ways, Artist on and off the court, Raising money

The American tried to play through her discomfort, and it took a long time for her to realise she could no longer continue in the sport. She finally decided to take a break from the sport in 2023 and spend her holidays with friends and family, whom she wouldn't usually see.

Finding her way back

Wimbledon final, Stunned Sabalenka, “Just indescribable”, Second player in Open era history, Always been expected, US Open girls title, Showing promise, French Open Semis, Mental demons, “Struggling with the lifestyle”, Taking a break, Finding her way back, Back to winning ways, Artist on and off the court, Raising money

After months of not picking up a racket, Anisimova had found her way back to tennis at the end of 2023 and started to regain her match fitness ahead of the 2024 season. She said, "I think that I refreshed my mind, and I took the time that I needed."

Back to winning ways

Wimbledon final, Stunned Sabalenka, “Just indescribable”, Second player in Open era history, Always been expected, US Open girls title, Showing promise, French Open Semis, Mental demons, “Struggling with the lifestyle”, Taking a break, Finding her way back, Back to winning ways, Artist on and off the court, Raising money

After building up her fitness and finding her trolling against the world's best players, she took a significant step forward in February 2025, winning the WTA 1000 title at the Qatar Open in Doha, according to the WTA.

Artist on and off the court

Wimbledon final, Stunned Sabalenka, “Just indescribable”, Second player in Open era history, Always been expected, US Open girls title, Showing promise, French Open Semis, Mental demons, “Struggling with the lifestyle”, Taking a break, Finding her way back, Back to winning ways, Artist on and off the court, Raising money

Her journey suffering from mental health problems has been strenuous, but one way she has battled out of her dark hole is through painting. Per the Olympic website, Anisimova said: "I picked that hobby up when I was struggling with my mental health."

Raising money

Wimbledon final, Stunned Sabalenka, “Just indescribable”, Second player in Open era history, Always been expected, US Open girls title, Showing promise, French Open Semis, Mental demons, “Struggling with the lifestyle”, Taking a break, Finding her way back, Back to winning ways, Artist on and off the court, Raising money

The world number 12 launched a campaign called 'Art for Hope' to display her paintings in a museum in New York, which were sold to raise funds for mental health and social cause charities.

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