Amanda Anisimova’s chances to compete at Wimbledon looked bleak as the tennis player walked away from the game. Anisimova took a break from tennis from May 2023 only to return eight months later in January 2024.
Despite plenty of skeptics, Anisimova opted to prioritize her mental health, putting her tennis career in doubt.
“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,” Anisimova told reporters on Thursday, per The New York Times’ Scott Cacciola. “Because I did want to come back and still achieve a lot and win a Grand Slam one day.”
On May 5, 2023, Anisimova took to Instagram announcing an indefinite leave from tennis.
“Hey guys. I thought I’d make a post explaining what’s been going on and my plans,” Anisimova posted. “I’ve really been struggling with my mental health and burnout since the summer of 2022. 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. I will miss being out there, and I appreciate all the continuous support 🤍✌️.”
Anisimova cited prioritizing her mental health as well as burnout from the sport as the main reasons for stepping away from tennis for eight months. The tennis player was also dealing with the sudden death of her dad Konstantin Anisimov, who passed away in 2019 following a heart attack, per The New York Times’ Scott Cacciola.
Unrelated to her break, there seems to be some confusion from fans about the adorable child cheering on Anisimova during Wimbledon. This is not Anisimova’s kid but rather her nephew Jaxon who flew to England to cheer on his aunt.