Once ranked outside the top 400, Amanda Anisimova is now one win away from her first Grand Slam title.
Amanda Anisimova’s name once echoed with promise, a teen prodigy who stormed into the 2019 French Open semi-finals at just 17. But as quickly as she rose, the American star vanished into obscurity, swallowed by pressure, mental health struggles, and a spiraling world ranking.
Today, however, the tennis world is watching her story take an extraordinary turn — as she prepares to walk out for her first Wimbledon final.
Now 23, Anisimova is set to face world number four Iga Swiatek in Saturday’s showpiece. The odds, the nerves, and the crowd will be massive, yet none of that compares to the inner battles she has already overcome.
Just two years ago, she stepped away from the sport entirely, tormented by depression and crippled by the suffocating expectations that haunted her ever since defeating Simona Halep in Paris.
At the time, critics and experts warned her that a prolonged break could derail her career forever. They said she would never return to the top. And for a while, that fear seemed justified – upon her return in 2024, she slipped outside the WTA top 400. But slowly, match by match, she began to rebuild.
By February 2025, Anisimova made a resounding statement, lifting the Qatar Open trophy and proving she still belonged among the elite. The momentum continued as she impressed on grass, reaching the Queen’s Club final in June.
ALSO READ:
- Anisimova “taking a break for sometime” amid mental health struggles
- Sabalenka slams Anisimova after Wimbledon loss to first-time Grand Slam finalist
- “Hard to take” – Heartbroken Raducanu proud of performance after narrow Wimbledon loss to Sabalenka
- Wimbledon 2025 sees eight top seeds crash out early—What it means for the final eight
Still, nothing screamed “comeback complete” quite like this Wimbledon run – a surge that has already secured her a place in the top 10 for the first time in her career.
Notably, Anisimova is only the second woman in Open Era history to reach a Grand Slam final after falling in qualifying at the same event the year before. For her, that turnaround is not just poetic – it’s proof. “People told me I wouldn’t make it back if I took time off,” she said, reflecting on her emotional path. “But I’ve shown you can put yourself first and still reach the top.”
Indeed, it’s not just about proving others wrong. It’s about finding peace, rediscovering joy, and playing the game on her own terms. Anisimova admitted that enjoying the training process again made a world of difference. And with patience came results – even if she hadn’t anticipated it would all click so spectacularly on the lawns of Wimbledon.
Her final opponent, Swiatek, holds five Grand Slam titles. Though they haven’t met on the professional circuit, they share roots in the junior ranks. Back then, Swiatek bested Anisimova in the Junior Fed Cup finals – a moment the American remembers with fondness, despite the loss. “Even then, coaches said she’d be something special – and they were right,” Anisimova recalled.
As fate would have it, Swiatek is now the final hurdle on a journey full of pain, patience, and perseverance. For Anisimova, facing someone she once admired makes this moment even more meaningful. “Iga’s achievements have inspired me. Her discipline, her mentality – it’s everything I aspire to.”
Regardless of the final score on Saturday, Amanda Anisimova’s Wimbledon story will be remembered not just for the tennis, but for the resilience behind it. From a mental health break that nearly ended her career to the biggest stage in the sport, she has reminded the world that comebacks are possible – not despite the struggle, but because of it.
Tags: Amanda Anisimova, Aryna Sabalenka, #Wimbledon2025, #Wimbledon, #WTA, Iga Swiatek, Junior Fed Cup finals, Grand Slam, Qatar Open, WTA top 400, Simona Halep.
