Anisimova: "Winning a Grand Slam completes a tennis player's life"

Andrés Tomás Rico - 27 Aug 2026 | 00:10
WTA Amanda Anisimova US Open 2026

The 2025 US Open finalist opened up in an interview where she stated that “now I take about 10 minutes to disconnect, and that is something I didn’t do when I was 20 years old.”
 

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Anisimova: "Winning a Grand Slam completes a tennis player's life." Photo: Getty Images

Amanda Anisimova returns to the place where she came very close to winning her first Grand Slam. At the US Open in 2025, the American reached the final, and although she was defeated by Aryna Sabalenka, she managed to shake off the bad taste left by that nightmare Wimbledon final two months earlier against Iga Swiatek, in which she lost with a historic 6-0, 6-0. But the lowest point of her career was not that, but in 2023 when she announced her retirement due to mental health issues and after suffering the loss of her father.

At that time, Anisimova said enough. But two years later, she decided to return, and in a big way. This episode of her career was the central theme of her interview with The Guardian, where she also spoke about how special and important Grand Slams are before playing the last one of the season at Flushing Meadows.

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Amanda Anisimova opened up about her retirement from tennis in 2023

The current world number 10 was clear and forceful: she knows that she needs time and disconnection from tennis from time to time. “I learned how important it is to have a good balance both on and off the court. That is something I didn't pay much attention to before: how to recharge and dedicate time to myself, prioritizing my well-being outside the court. Before, everything revolved around tennis and I didn't know how to incorporate those little breaks for myself. I think that is one of the main reasons I reached a critical point and needed to step away from the sport.”

But after going through that ordeal, taking the necessary break, and returning with a different mindset, Anisimova explained what differences exist between her current self and her past self. The main thing is that she now knows how to recognize when something is not right. “Before, I sometimes thought it was normal, but now I know it's not normal to experience that or go through it. At least, it’s not good for it to keep happening. Obviously, it’s normal to get tired or fatigued, and we all have days when we don't feel like doing what we have to do. It's about how you manage it and face it. I think that has been the most important thing I’ve learned, and it has helped me a lot as an athlete.”

Therefore, she is implementing actions and habits that she didn’t have before: “I try to keep perspective, and I think that helps me stay grounded in many situations. When I take about 10 minutes for myself, to disconnect and reflect on what I'm experiencing, and keep that perspective in mind, I think that helps me a lot sometimes. And it’s not something I could do when I was 20 or 21.”

But back to the present, Anisimova has the pressure to at least repeat last year's final: “I feel like I’ve regained my rhythm on the court. I’m really looking forward to the US Open. I feel good. It’s my favorite time of year, without a doubt. I have that enthusiasm and motivation to achieve my dreams and win a Grand Slam one day.”

But Anisimova warns, not everything that glitters is gold in professional tennis: “Many of the things needed to get here are not as beautiful or glamorous as people think. But I also love challenges, and that’s why I’m where I am today. I’m a professional athlete, and you don’t get to where I am without going through uncomfortable moments. I think it’s simply about accepting it. You’re going to feel uncomfortable 90% of the time, but I’m so motivated by my goals that it definitely makes it easier and more rewarding for me.”

And Amanda Anisimova concluded the interview with a clear goal, which she can achieve at this US Open 2026: “It has always been a dream to win a Grand Slam. One doesn’t think of winning a WTA 1000 tournament as a dream. It’s always the most important thing you can win, whether it’s a Grand Slam or the Olympics, which are two big dreams for athletes. For me, it has always been the US Open. I think winning a Grand Slam has something special that completes a tennis player’s life.”
 

This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Anisimova: "Ganar un Grand Slam completa la vida de un tenista"