From the special reporter "Vijesti"
A youthful smile and a face tanned by the London sun. Dreams that come true...
This is Amanda Anisimova, today at around 18pm local Wimbledon time. She is smiling from the stage of the media theatre, at a press conference. Just half an hour earlier she had advanced to the final of the biggest tennis tournament.
- I still can't believe it, this doesn't seem real to me. If someone had told me last year that I would be in the Wimbledon final, I wouldn't have believed them. To reach the final, after everything... I have no words - she said.
The words “after all” dominated her speech, carrying special weight. What happened before this July flash at the SW19 London address? What happened “before all”?
Amanda, a New Jersey native of Russian descent who now lives in Florida, was recognized as one of the most talented players in the world at a young age. She was a teenage sensation, known for her devastating baseline shot and a maturity on the court that was beyond her years.
She was just 17 years old when she reached the semifinals of Roland Garros in 2019, eliminating Simona Halep. She became the youngest American to do so since Jennifer Capriati in 1990. Many declared her a future Grand Slam champion, but then something happened - she had to stop.
Something happened in her head, and the sudden death of her father and coach definitely slowed down her predicted rise and made things difficult. She was only 21 when saturation hit. She made the painful decision - to retire from the sport.
Struggling with anxiety, depression, exhaustion, and brutal comments on social media that followed her results almost took her away from tennis forever.
They insulted her, wrote that she was fat, that she didn't have an athletic body, that her breasts were too big, and of course - that she didn't know anything about tennis. Amanda knew herself that she wasn't perfect, she just wanted to play, to win. She had to fight - with her surroundings, but also with herself.
- Since the summer of 2022, I have been struggling with mental health. It became unbearable to be in tournaments. Since then, my absolute priority has been health. I knew I needed a break - she said.
She hadn't touched a racket in months. She had traveled the world, seen friends, spent time with family, attended university for a semester, and found a new passion - painting. Art, she said, helped her survive the silence and find her own identity.
"I didn't have any hobbies outside of tennis, and then I started painting to distract myself. I gave myself time and space," Amanda said.
Over time, perhaps unconsciously, along with painting and hanging out with friends, she found another passion - tennis! An old passion, of course, but deeper than she had ever felt before.
At the end of 2023, she picked up a racket again, began preparing for her return, and entered the 2024 season, although below 400th place on the WTA list, with new, renewed energy.
She won the WTA tournament in Doha, played in the Toronto final, and where is she now, in July 2025 - in the Wimbledon final, no less. A story of falling to the very bottom and new growth.
- Every win now has more meaning for me because I know what I've been through. It's not just tennis anymore, it's not just sport anymore - it's my life.
Arina Sabalenko, her great friend, hugged her at the net, despite the painful defeat - 6:4, 4:6, 6:4.
- She is an incredible opponent, this is our joint victory, although I know how she feels. I am sure she will win Wimbledon one day.
In the end, she returned - to her friends.
- Being vulnerable is liberating. If I helped at least one person feel less alone - it was worth it. And so thank you to my family, my team, my friends - we've been through it all together.
Amanda Anisimova is not a favorite against Iga Sfjontek (who easily defeated Belinda Bencic - 6:2, 6:0) in Saturday's Wimbledon final, but who knows - after everything she's been through, maybe something is written in the stars.
The men's singles semifinals are scheduled for Friday. Carlos Alcaraz and Taylor Fritz will meet at 14.30:17 p.m., followed by Novak Djokovic and Janik Siner at XNUMX p.m.
Djokovic missed today's practice after he slipped and fell in the quarterfinals against Flavius Cobolli when he had the match point.
Bonus video:
