Anisimova's most poignant reflection: "I had to stop and ask myself if this still made me happy"
The American knows that a good number of points await her to defend in New York, so she revealed some activities she enjoys doing to not think about this all the time.
It will be twelve months since the final that Amanda Anisimova reached at the last US Open, her second Grand Slam final after a prodigious summer. A summer very different from the one she has had this time, for whatever reasons.
The American is still in the top 10, that is true, but it is also true that in 2026 we have not seen her occupy the main stage as much. Beyond the number of victories, the player herself confesses that she has gone through moments of doubt, of reassessing everything, although she now arrives in New York with her usual energy. Her press conference at the Media Day is very necessary to bring a bit of normality to a lifestyle that cannot be further from the ordinary.
Building confidence before arriving in New York
“I thought it was a very positive week for me in Cincinnati, and I feel like I really raised my level there. I had several tough matches, and I think it was great for me heading into this tournament. It was a good week to have, with many important battles. I feel very good coming into the US Open. This is my favorite tournament to play, so I am always excited and it's the one I look forward to the most. The fans have been really great because I feel that they even give me more energy during practice. Every time I step on the court, I feel that there is a fantastic atmosphere.”
This is what a day off looks like in Amanda Anisimova's life
“Yesterday was my first day off here and that’s why I chose to do the most relaxing thing I could think of: just relaxing on the grass of Central Park. It was a great way to reset and recharge right before the tournament. I know we all have very busy weeks here, and I also had a pretty intense week, but I love it. I feel like it helps distract me from the tournament and from the pressures, doing different things and working with the brands. I had a very good week, mixing many different things, and I feel good heading into the tournament.”
Her passion for 'making faces' on social media
“Yes, I see them and I feel like they just appear on my 'For You' page. Sometimes my friend tells me: ‘I’ve seen you about 50 times today on Instagram and I don’t know why.’ I definitely see them, and they are very entertaining and fun. But I didn’t always think that, because I have always been very expressive and an emotional player, and I make all kinds of faces that I didn’t even know my face could make. When I was 17 and played in the semifinals of Roland Garros, I was going through all kinds of emotions and making all sorts of faces. The next morning, I saw all the photos and was horrified. I thought: ‘Oh my God, this is horrible.’ I told myself I would never make those faces again. But here we are. I can’t help it. It’s who I am. Now I can find them entertaining and fun, but when I was a teenager, I thought it was awful.”
Anisimova's solution to regain her passion for tennis
“I think it depends on the situation. Maybe stepping away for a while, two weeks, a month, or even longer, depending on how extreme the situation is. I think taking a break is the first step, and then asking yourself: ‘Do I want to continue with this? Does it still make me happy?’. You also need to discover what your values and goals are. For me, reflection and self-awareness are very important. The most crucial thing is to sit down with yourself before you sit down with others and listen to everyone’s advice, because everyone has an opinion. In the end, what is most valuable is discovering what you really think. If the athlete is surrounded by a team or parents who are constantly trying to push, push, and push and are not paying attention to what they are experiencing, it’s not a good way to do it. Ultimately, you want the athlete to grow, have fun, and enjoy what they do. If you don’t see that, then obviously there is something that needs to change.”
Ideas to disconnect from tennis
“I do a bit of painting. In fact, I bought a watercolor kit a few weeks ago, and I was doing some random things while I was in the hotel. I think I just try not to take myself too seriously and have variety in what I do each day, avoiding making every day exactly the same. Also knowing that there are things I can look forward to. Yesterday, for example, I was in Central Park on my day off. Having a good balance in my life is something that really helps me. And also not taking things too seriously, especially when there’s so much talk about stress and pressure. At the end of the day, I just want to have fun, enjoy my tennis, and see how far I can go.”
This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, La reflexión más cruda de Anisimova: “Tuve que para a preguntarme si esto todavía me hacía feliz”