American Amanda Anisimova Takes Indefinite Break from Tennis, Citing Mental Health Concerns and Burnout
American tennis player Amanda Anisimova announced her indefinite leave of absence on Friday to address her mental health and weariness.
The former world number 21 revealed his struggles with mental health and stress in an Instagram post from two years ago. Being at tennis matches has gotten intolerable. My current top priority is restoring my sanity and taking a break. I’ve exhausted every possible avenue in an effort to solve this issue.
Amanda Anisimova’s Tennis Journey: Rising Star, Tragic Loss, and Recent Struggles
Anisimova, now 21, won the junior US Open in 2017. She made her debut on the Hologic WTA Tour four years ago at Roland Garros, where she upset the defending champion Simona Halep and advanced to the semifinals at the ripe old age of 17 to become the youngest woman to do so at a major since 2006.
Later that year, however, just before the US Open, she lost her father and lifelong coach, Konstantin, to a heart attack at 52.
“This is the worst thing I’ve had to go through and the hardest thing that’s ever occurred to me,” she told the New York Times in 2020. The one thing that has helped me is to play tennis and be out on the court. I’m content with the way things are right now, and he would be too.
Twelve months earlier, Anisimova also made it to the quarterfinals at Wimbledon, where she shocked Coco Gauff on Centre Court. She also twice advanced to the fourth round of the Australian Open and defeated Naomi Osaka, the defending champion, in 2022.
Anisimova, a two-time WTA singles champion, thanked her supporters on her post but provided no update on when she could return. Anisimova, currently ranked No. 46, was eliminated by Arantxa Rus in the first round of the Mutua Madrid Open last week. At the time of her declaration, she had a 3-8 record for the year.
Conclusion
In a surprising turn of events, Amanda Anisimova has announced that she is taking a permanent break from professional tennis. Her decision comes as a result of the mental health challenges and burnout she has been facing.
Anisimova, once ranked as high as 21st in the world, openly shared her struggles with mental health and stress on social media a couple of years ago. The toll of participating in tennis matches has become unbearable for her, leading her to prioritize her mental well-being by taking an indefinite hiatus.
Her tennis journey has been a mix of remarkable achievements and personal tragedies. At just 17 years old, she made headlines by defeating the defending champion at Roland Garros and becoming the youngest woman in over a decade to reach the semifinals of a major tournament. However, the loss of her father and lifelong coach, Konstantin, to a sudden heart attack before the US Open in the same year turned her world upside down.
Despite her profound grief, Anisimova found solace in the game she and her father loved. She continued to excel on the court, making notable runs at Wimbledon and the Australian Open and defeating top players like Coco Gauff and Naomi Osaka.
Now, Anisimova’s future in tennis remains to be determined. Ranked 46th in the world at the time of her decision, she expressed her gratitude to her supporters but did not provide a timeline for her potential return. Her recent record reflects the challenges she has faced this season.
Anisimova’s choice to prioritize her mental health is courageous and commendable. That not even the best athletes are immune to the effects of burnout and mental health problems is a sobering warning. While her absence will be felt in the tennis world, the most important thing is that she finds the peace and healing she seeks during this time away.
We extend our best wishes to Amanda Anisimova on her journey towards self-care and well-being. We hope that when and if the time is right, she may find joy and fulfillment in returning to the sport that has brought her both triumph and challenges.