American tennis player Amanda Anisimova announced on Friday that she will be taking an indefinite break from tennis due to burnout and concerns for her mental health. Anisimova, who was once the world’s No. 21, said that she has been struggling with her mental health and burnout since 2022, and being at tennis tournaments had become unbearable. The 21-year-old has won two WTA singles titles, reached the quarterfinals at Wimbledon, twice reached the fourth round of the Australian Open and beat defending champion Naomi Osaka at the 2022 Australian Open.
Anisimova’s breakthrough in the Hologic WTA Tour happened at Roland Garros four years ago where she reached the semifinals at age 17 and dethroned reigning champion Simona Halep. She lost her father and longtime coach Konstantin, who died from a heart attack, just prior to the 2019 US Open. Anisimova said that playing tennis and being on the court have helped her cope with the loss. She didn’t give any timetable for her return, but thanked fans for their ongoing support.
Anisimova, currently ranked No. 46, lost in the first round of the Mutua Madrid Open last week to Arantxa Rus. Before announcing her break, she had a record of 3 wins and 8 losses for the season. The former world No. 21 didn’t say when she will be back but emphasized that her priority is her mental well-being and taking a break for some time. She concluded by saying that she will miss being out there and thanked fans for their continuous support.
