How Amanda Anisimova Is Bouncing Back After a Tough Year at Wimbledon

Amanda Anisimova is back at Wimbledon, one of the most famous tennis tournaments in the world. The 24-year-old American made it to the Wimbledon final last year, but lost in a crushing 6-0 6-0 defeat to Iga Swiatek. That score had not happened at Wimbledon in more than 100 years. Now Anisimova is returning to the tournament with something to prove — and a powerful story of bouncing back from tough times.

Just six weeks after that difficult Wimbledon final, Anisimova showed what she was made of. She faced Swiatek again at the US Open and beat her, going on to reach another grand slam final. This time she lost to Aryna Sabalenka, but only just — 6-4, 7-6 — and there were moments where she almost forced a deciding third set. It was a strong sign that she had moved past the pain of Wimbledon and was playing her best tennis again.

What makes Anisimova special is not just her powerful playing style, but how she handles setbacks. To prepare for her match against Swiatek at the US Open, she did something very few players would do — she watched the entire Wimbledon final back, all 47 painful minutes of it. 'Nobody told me to, but I watched it back, as painful as it was,' she said, laughing. She used it as a learning tool rather than something to hide from.

Anisimova's life has had much bigger challenges than a bad tennis score. When she was just 17, she reached the semi-finals of the French Open in 2019, during only her first full season as a professional. Shortly after, her father and coach, Konstantin, passed away suddenly. The loss hit her deeply, and over the next few years she struggled to find her best form on the court.

She eventually decided to step away from tennis for most of 2023 to take care of her mental health. During that break, she took up painting and even studied her business and psychology degree in person for a semester at college. When she returned to tennis in January 2024, something had clearly changed — she came back stronger than ever. In 2025, she won two major WTA 1000 titles, reached two grand slam finals, and made the semi-finals of the WTA Finals for the first time.

Her 2026 season has been harder. She split with her coach in March, then hurt her left wrist and missed two months of competition. When she came back at the French Open, the rust showed and she lost in the third round. She also lost earlier than expected at the Queen's Club tournament, a warm-up event for Wimbledon, falling to Iva Jovic in the quarter-finals.

So heading into Wimbledon, Anisimova is not riding a wave of great form like she was last year. She is seeded sixth in the tournament, but her season so far means fewer people expect her to win, which could actually take some pressure off. She faces a qualifier in the first round, and could then play two American former grand slam champions — Sofia Kenin and Madison Keys — in the next two rounds. If she makes the quarter-finals, she would likely face 2022 Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina.

Experts say it is almost as hard to repeat a great season as it is to have one in the first place. Tennis player Jasmine Paolini reached two major finals in 2024, but has found it tough to match that form since. For Anisimova, the challenge is the same — but those who follow tennis believe her talent and mental strength give her a real chance. She has faced loss, injury, heartbreak, and self-doubt, and kept coming back every time.

After her US Open final run, she explained her mindset clearly. 'I think I have really worked on myself to really be able to handle those moments and to believe in myself, even when it feels like what is there to believe in, when you are not playing that well.' Last year's Wimbledon final, as painful as it was, gave her a lesson she will carry forever. Whether she wins the title this year or not, that experience has helped shape her into one of the toughest competitors in the game.