From mental health struggles to the Wimbledon final: The story of Amanda Anisimova

On July 12, the 2025 Wimbledon women’s final will be played, featuring the established champion Iga Swiatek and the surprise of the tournament, Amanda Anisimova. The American, who stepped away from tennis following the tragic death of her father, has made a remarkable return to the sport.

Amanda Anisimova, of Russian descent, was born on August 21, 2001, in Freehold, New Jersey. From a young age, she stood out as one of the brightest talents in women’s tennis. Her father coached both Amanda and her sister in their early steps in the sport. Anisimova reached No. 2 in the ITF junior world rankings in 2016, and by 2017—at just 16 years old—she had already broken into the top 200 in the WTA rankings.

Retirement in 2023

After a promising start to her career, which included a runner-up finish at Roland Garros in 2019, Amanda stepped away from the professional tour in 2023. She opened up about the mental health struggles brought on by the intense pressure of the tennis world and the constant stream of negative comments she received on social media.

Even before officially “hanging up her racket,” Anisimova had withdrawn from the 2019 US Open—the same year her father, Konstantin, passed away from a heart attack.

Her decision to step away was met with harsh criticism. But after defeating Aryna Sabalenka in the semifinals, she delivered a powerful message: “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, Just me being able to prove that you can get back to the top if you prioritize yourself [has] been incredibly special to me.”

A triumphant return

During her most difficult period, the support of her family was essential. So was therapy—and an unexpected outlet: painting. She began exploring art as a way to calm her mind. Little by little, with patience and perseverance, she regained the motivation and confidence to return to the circuit.

Last season, she already showed signs of recovery, reaching the final of the WTA 1000 in Toronto. This year, she won the title in Doha, reached the semifinals in Charleston, and was a finalist at Queen’s—but her biggest moment was yet to come.

This Thursday, Anisimova wrote a new chapter in her comeback story by defeating world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka in the Wimbledon semifinals. It was her first career win over a world No. 1, securing her a place in the final of the sport’s most prestigious tournament. At 23, she will play her first-ever Grand Slam final this Saturday against Poland’s Iga Swiatek. Thanks to this achievement, she will also break into the WTA Top 10 for the first time in her career.

“If you told me I would be in the final of Wimbledon, I would not believe you. Especially not this soon,” Anisimova said after her historic victory. With that statement, the young American became not only a Wimbledon finalist, but also a symbol of resilience and perseverance. Tennis has moved her once again—this time, with joy—and if she lifts the trophy on Centre Court, she already knows exactly who she will dedicate it to.

Her path to the 2025 Wimbledon Final:

• Semifinals: defeated Sabalenka (4-6, 6-4, 4-6)
• Quarterfinals: defeated Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova (6-1, 7-6)
• Round of 16: defeated Noskova (2-6, 7-5, 4-6)
• Third Round: defeated Galfi (6-3, 5-7, 6-3)
• Second Round: defeated Zarazua (6-4, 6-3)
• First Round: defeated Putintseva (6-0, 6-0)

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