The tough story of Amanda Anisimova, Nadia Podoroska’s rival in the second round of the Australian Open

The start of the 2024 season, with the Australian Open As the main event, it marked the return to the circuit of several players who for different reasons had momentarily hung up their rackets. Between them, Amanda Anisimovathe rival of Nadia Podoroska in the oceanic Grand Slam. The 22-year-old American, who had announced an indefinite break in May 2023 (which ended up being just over a year) to recover from her mental health problems, is playing in Melbourne in her first “big game” since her return. . And after beating the Russian in her debut Lyudmila Samsonovawill now go for a place in the third round against Rosario.

“I feel much fresher. I’m enjoying training and every minute on the court. Even when I’m losing, I enjoy the challenge. And I’m happy. I was very exhausted and it wasn’t a pleasant feeling. Being able to reset was very nice and very good for me,” he commented after his debut in the tournament.

While away from the circuit, Anisimova focused on advancing her university studies and found in art an escape and a way to lend a hand to causes that are important to her.

The New Jersey native had a great career as a junior: she reached the second place in the ranking ITF of that category and was crowned champion in the US Open in 2017. And he burst onto the professional circuit making a lot of noise in 2019, when at just 17 years and months after winning his first title, in Bogotá, he reached the semifinals of Roland Garrosafter surprising the Romanian Simona Halep, defending champion, in the quarterfinals. She was the youngest player to reach the top four of a Grand Slam since 2006.

After his time in Paris, expectations for his future grew and many began to point out his enormous potential. Before the end of that season, the American was on the verge of breaking into the top 20 – she reached 21st place, her best placement, in October – and she suffered a very hard blow. Konstantinhis father and coach, died of cardiac arrest at the age of 52.

“It’s the hardest thing I’ve had to live through. The only thing that’s helping me is playing tennis. That’s what makes me happy, and I know it would make him happy,” he commented in mid-2020 in a chat with The New York Timesshortly before reaching the quarters of Wimbledon.

But the pressures and demands of the circuit were burning his mind and ended up transforming the sport he loved so much into an ordeal.

“I have been struggling with my mental health and exhaustion since the summer of 2022. Today, being in tournaments is unbearable. Right now, my priority is my mental well-being and taking a break for some time,” he wrote in a post on her social networks in May 2023, after being eliminated in the first round of the WTA 1000 Madrid.

A few weeks later, he commented: “Stepping away from the circuit made me realize how much work, sweat, tears and pain I experienced for this sport.”

Anisimova spent four months without touching a racket. At that time, she attended the Universidad Nova Southeastern of Floridawhere he continued his studies for a bachelor’s degree in business sciences with a specialization in psychology, which he began online in 2020 and which he hopes to complete remotely in the Indiana University in 2025.

Additionally, she volunteered, spent a lot of time with her family and friends, traveled and saw new places, and celebrated her first birthday away from a tennis court for the first time in a long time. And she started painting, a hobby that ended up becoming a special project that she is excited to continue.

“I started when I wasn’t very well mentally. I always liked art, so I bought canvases and paint and thought I’d try it for fun. Then it became something I did every week and it stayed that way. I needed to find things I liked to do for my account, apart from spending time with people. It was a good mental break to get away from my cell phone and everything for a few hours. I enjoyed it a lot,” he told the magazine a few months ago. WTA.

He added: “I wanted to do something bigger than sharing it on social media or giving it to friends. So I created a website to sell my paintings and help some charities that I care about a lot. It was a nice feeling to know I was doing something “while I was away from tennis, which was a big part of my identity. I wanted to see what made me feel good as a person.”

His paintings were even exhibited in a gallery in New York. And a portion of the sales profits went to organizations that work for mental health and against child abuse and world hunger.

In his web page “Art for Hope” (www.for-a-cause.com), Anisimova wrote: “I believe that everyone deserves to have access to resources and support, regardless of their background or circumstances. (…) Mental health is a crucial component of the general well-being. However, it is often stigmatized or overlooked.”

“In my free time, I’m going to continue painting. I’m looking forward to getting back to that because I have some things in mind that I want to put into art when I get back home, so I can publish more paintings on the page, because they are sold out,” he said in Melbourne.

After enjoying this new life for several months, Anisimova picked up a racket again in September and the first week of January, she played an official tournament again. It was in Aucklandwhere he defeated Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova in the debut and then fell to Marie Bouskovafifth favorite.

“My plan was to start training in September. When that month arrived, I felt good and ready to start. I started and realized I was enjoying it. And then I decided to continue,” she said.

“Everything was there, it was like I really hadn’t stopped training. I was very happy to see that my shots and my game were still there. But I had to get in shape, because I’m human and obviously that part disappears and you have to build it again” , he added. “The hardest thing was finding a good balance between when to push harder and when to be cautious to avoid injury. I really wanted to come to Australia, but also feel like I was healthy and could compete.”

Relegated to 442nd in the ranking (she was 46th when she stopped), she entered the Australian Open with a protected ranking and will now clash with Podoroska for a place in the third round. But beyond her chances of continuing to advance in the “big” oceanic draw, where she reached the fourth round in 2019 and 2022, Anisimova knows that today the most important thing happens elsewhere.

“It was nice to take a break from the chaotic lifestyle of a tennis player and reestablish myself as a human being. I regained a lot of energy and happiness. I slowed down my life and that was something I really needed. I’ve grown and matured a lot in the last year and I know how I want to prepare , train and face my career,” he commented.

And she assured: “I feel really blessed to be able to play a Grand Slam again, especially the Australian Open, it is like my second home, after the US Open. I am so excited to be back and happy with the victory in my debut. Whatever happens in the next rounds, win or lose, I’m going to enjoy it.”