AMANDA ANISIMOVA turned to abstract art during an eight-month mental health break from tennis – and now she hopes to create a Wimbledon masterpiece.
The Miami Beach resident decided to lay down her racquet between May 2023 and January 2024 and came off the WTA Tour treadmill.
The American took up art during her eight-month break from tennis[/caption]
Anisimova’s father Konstantin died when he was 52[/caption]
Close to feeling burned out, she claimed it had “become unbearable being at tennis tournaments” and it was important to prioritise her mental wellbeing over chasing ranking points and dollars.
Back home in Florida, during her newfound time away from the tramlines, she turned to painting as a form of relaxation and spent hours with a brush and canvas.
The hope is that on Saturday afternoon in London – in the new women’s singles final start time of 4pm BST [11am EDT] – Anisimova can brush aside five-time Grand Slam champion Iga Swiatek for the $4million [£3m] first prize.
Just like she did to world No1 Aryna Sabalenka in a three-set semi-final thriller on Thursday.
Anisimova, 23, said: “Art is a passion of mine, something I picked up as a hobby to do in my free time.
“I typically do abstract art. Maybe this run is some inspiration for me when I get back to make a piece.
“I enjoy doing a lot of things in my free time to just turn my mind off of things.
“I’m not someone who is always ‘tennis, tennis, tennis’. I like just relaxing and just taking my mind off when I can.
“I have quite a few outlets. I love listening to music, too. I think that’s super important when you’re playing at this high level.”
Anisimova, the daughter of New Jersey-based Russian immigrants, showed her promise in 2017 when she thrashed compatriot Coco Gauff 6-0 6-2 to win the US Open girls’ singles championship.
Two years later, she demonstrated her class and adaptability on clay by making the semi-finals of the 2019 French Open aged 17.
And it appeared the switch to the professional ranks from the junior system was becoming a smooth one.
Yet two months after her adventure in Paris, family tragedy struck when father Konstantin Anisimov, who was also her long-time coach, died of a heart attack. He was 52.
Two years ago, everything became too much and she decided to leave the circuit, only returning at the start of last year for the Auckland Open in New Zealand.
By the time the 2024 Australian Open began – she lost to eventual champion Sabalenka in the last 16 in her comeback season – she was down to 442nd in the world.
It is incredible to think that Anisimova, now 12th on the WTA list, could become the latest American winner of the Venus Rosewater Dish, 12 months after she lost in qualifying as the world No191.
It was in the third and final round in Roehampton where she was defeated by German Eva Lys and walked away with $54,000 [£40,000].
When I took my break, a lot of people told me that I would never make it to the top again
Amanda Anisimova
Anisimova is only the second player in the Open Era to reach a women’s singles final at a Grand Slam after losing in qualifying at the previous year’s event.
Asked if this run in SW19 was “the ultimate vindication of taking a break”, the 23-year-old replied: “It’s different for everyone.
“It goes to show that it is possible. I think that’s a really special message that I’ve been able to show.
“Because when I took my break, 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.
“That was a little hard to digest because I did want to come back and still achieve a lot and win a Grand Slam one day.
“Just me being able to prove that you can get back to the top if you prioritise yourself. That’s been incredibly special to me. It means a lot.”
The US Calendar Slam will be on if Anisimova wins as she would follow Madison Keys (Australian Open) and Gauff (French Open) as major title winners in 2025.
She is bidding to become the youngest American female champion since Serena Williams in 2003.
Anisimova was a highly-rated junior as a teenager[/caption]
She reached her first Grand Slam semi-final at Roland Garros aged 17[/caption]
Anisimova is reaping the rewards of her break – on and off the court[/caption]
The rivalry with Poland’s former world No1 Swiatek stretches back to their Fed Cup juniors days but this is their first senior meeting.
Anisimova – who has served 36 double faults this tournament, more than any other woman – has her family around her, including four-year-old nephew who flew in especially for the tournament.
She said: “I feel very happy to be able to share this moment with my loved ones and my team. It’s incredibly special.
“It has been so special to see all of the support in my box. Just so many people who mean so much to me.
“In moments of doubt or when I am down, I’d just look up at my box and see their support.
“Iga is such an unbelievable player. She’s also been an inspiration to me.
“Her work ethic and all of her achievements have been really inspiring. I’m sure it will be an amazing match again.
“Hopefully I can bring some high-quality tennis and make it a battle out there.
“I’m just going to go out and enjoy every moment and try to not think about what’s on the line there.”
She is being supported at Wimbledon by her family including nephew Jaxson[/caption]
The No13 seed’s backhand is one of the best shots in tennis[/caption]
The tennis star lost in qualifying for Wimbledon a year ago[/caption]
She would bank $4m by winning Saturday’s final[/caption]
