For about a year ago, Amanda Anisimova was ranked as number 50 in the world. Then she tried to work her way up again on the ranking list after taking a break during 2023 due to burnout and a struggle with her mental health.
We all go through tough times sometime in life, said Anisimova, according to the news agency AP, during Wimbledon in July this year.
For me, it was about stopping and reflecting on my situation, finding out what had gone wrong and how I can create a lifestyle that I enjoy. For me personally, it was about finding people I could confide in and who I trusted.
Second straight final
Wimbledon was her first Grand Slam final, but it was a loss on the grass in London against the Pole Iga Swiatek with 0–6, 0–6. In the US Open, Anisimova knocked out Swiatek in the quarterfinals and in the semifinals, the Japanese Naomi Osaka was defeated, who has also struggled with her mental health during her career.
However, it required a night match of almost three hours. Just before 1 am local time, the 24-year-old could hit the match ball on Flushing Meadows in New York for a win with 6–7, 7–6, 6–3.
I was not sure if I would be able to go all the way and I had to bring out my best game. It was an enormous struggle out there today, says the 24-year-old, who was born in New Jersey and grew up in Florida.
In the final, the reigning champion Aryna Sabalenka is waiting, who knocked out the home player Jessica Pegula in the final rematch from last year with 2–1 in sets (4–6, 6–3, 6–4).
"So happy"
Anisimova, however, leads the mutual meetings against the Belarusian with 6–3 and she knocked out Sabalenka in the semifinals in Wimbledon this summer.
Sabalenka can in Saturday's final become the first female player to defend her US Open title since Serena Williams managed to achieve the feat in 2014.
I am so happy to be back in the final and hopefully, I can go all the way again, says the 27-year-old, who has taken three Grand Slam titles in her career.
