Amanda Anisimova’s decision to pause her career in 2023 came after a challenging run of results. On April 26 of that year, she lost to Arantxa Rus in the first round of the Madrid Open, marking her fourth consecutive defeat. At that point, she held a 3-8 record for the season and had not won a match since February. Just days later, the 2017 US Open girls’ singles champion announced she would step away from tennis to focus on her mental health and overall well-being.
The turning point and decision to reset
Reflecting on that period, Anisimova admitted that continuing to play would have worsened her situation. “I just needed that time to reset. At that moment when I was making my decision, people said, Oh, just push through this. Or, like, it’ll get easier and just, like, try and get through it. But I think if I had done that, it would have set me back even further. Yeah, I think it was the best decision ever,” she told Sports Illustrated. She added that the break allowed her to grow not only as a player but also as a person. “I think it also changed me as the person I am off the court. When I came back from my break, I’ve just been growing into this, into the person I am, and just becoming more comfortable and more free with myself.”
Return and resurgence
By late 2023, Anisimova confirmed her return to tennis at the start of 2024. Since then, she has re-established herself among the elite. In 2025, she reached two Grand Slam finals and climbed to a career-high ranking of No. 4, proving that her decision to step away ultimately strengthened her game and mindset.
A message of resilience
Anisimova’s journey highlights the importance of prioritizing mental health in professional sports. Her ability to pause, reset, and return stronger demonstrates resilience and self-awareness, qualities that have helped her transform into one of the leading figures in women’s tennis today.
Amanda Anisimova in 2025
Ranked no.4 (career-high), the American played her last match on the 7th of November when she lost to world no.1 Aryna Sabalenka 6-3 3-6 6-3 in the semifinal in Riyadh (draw).
Currently, during this season Anisimova has a 47-18 win-loss record. Amanda clinched 2 titles in 2025 in Doha and Beijing. Amanda reached the final in London, Wimbledon and U.S. Open.