On the eve of her first Hologic WTA Tour match in eight months, Amanda Anisimova is happy and excited to be grinding away on a tennis court. When asked if she remembered the last time she was this happy playing tennis, the 22-year-old American took a pause.
“Probably last year [2022] around Wimbledon,” Anisimova told WTA Insider from Auckland, New Zealand. “It’s been a really long time, so it’s just really nice to feel this way again.”
It’s been a long road back for Anisimova. A junior US Open champion who rode her preternaturally powerful groundstrokes to a French Open semifinal at the age of 17, Anisimova announced an indefinite break from the sport earlier this year in May, citing burnout and mental health concerns.
“I’ve really been struggling with my mental health and burnout since the summer of 2022,” the former World No.21 wrote. “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. I’ve worked as hard as I could to push through it.”
Anisimova took four months off, picking up a racquet only for casual hits with friends. She did a semester at Nova Southeastern University in Florida. She threw herself into a burgeoning art hobby, selling her paintings for charity. She did volunteer work, took road trips with friends and celebrated her birthday at a venue that wasn’t a tennis court. She spent the time living a normal life. Most importantly, she lived a life that didn’t revolve around the tennis calendar.
“It was just nice to take a break from the chaotic lifestyle of a tennis player and reset as a human,” Anisimova said. “I think that break and having more than two weeks off for the first time in my life was just very refreshing. I gained a lot of energy back in myself and happiness.
“I slowed my life down and that’s something that I really needed.”
Anisimova decided to resume training in September. With new coach Marc Lucero by her side, she quickly rediscovered the pleasure of the grind. She may not always be able to dictate where the tennis ball lands, but she certainly had a say in her effort, commitment, and mentality. Suddenly, she felt in control again.
“Once I started training I was really enjoying it,” Anisimova said. “I was trying to slowly progress back so I didn’t have any setbacks.
