Amanda Anisimova broke down in tears as she paid a heartfelt tribute to her mother following a devastating defeat in the Wimbledon final. The American tennis star’s fairytale journey to her first Grand Slam final ended in disappointment, just 18 months after returning to the sport to focus on her mental health. Anisimova faced a crushing 6-0, 6-0 loss to Poland’s Iga Swiatek in what was the most one-sided final in 114 years, played under the sweltering conditions of a London heatwave.
During the presentation ceremony, Anisimova was visibly emotional as she addressed the crowd, expressing gratitude to her mother and team.
“My mom’s put in more work than I have honestly,”
she said, wiping away tears.
“Guys I’m so sorry… No my mom is the most selfless person I know and she’s done everything to get me to this point in my life. So thank you for being here and breaking the superstition of flying in. It’s definitely not why I lost today.”
The Road to Wimbledon
Anisimova’s journey to the Wimbledon final has been a rollercoaster. In May 2023, she took a break from tennis due to burnout and had previously dealt with the tragic loss of her father, Konstantin, who passed away in August 2019. Her return to the sport in January 2024 saw her climb back from outside the world’s top 400 to a career-high seventh in the rankings, highlighted by her victory at the Qatar Open in February.
The high point of Anisimova’s year came when she defeated world number one Aryna Sabalenka in a grueling semi-final match. However, the physical toll of that match left her exhausted, admitting she was unable to practice the day before the final.
“I didn’t practice yesterday. I think that I was just really fatigued,”
she explained.
“I could feel it also in my warm-up this morning. I mean, I had to take a break after every single rally out there in my warm-up.”
Emotional and Physical Challenges
Anisimova’s emotional speech underscored the personal and physical challenges she faced during the tournament.
“I was a bit frozen there with my nerves. Maybe the last two weeks I got a bit tired or something,”
she confessed. Despite the defeat, Anisimova is determined to use the experience as motivation for future success.
“If anything, I can look at it as a positive and something I can look at as motivation going forward. Obviously there’s a lot of things I need to do to progress.”
Her resolve to improve her physicality and mental toughness is evident as she plans to continue working towards her dream of becoming a Grand Slam champion.
“It’s honestly, like, a fork in the road. It’s whatever direction you want to go in,”
Anisimova stated.
“I’m going to choose the path of working towards my goals and to try and keep improving, hopefully put myself in more positions and opportunities like today.”
Looking Ahead
As Anisimova reflects on her Wimbledon experience, she remains optimistic about her future in tennis. Her ability to reach the final, despite the challenges, showcases her potential and determination. The tennis world will be watching closely as she continues her journey, with hopes of seeing her achieve her Grand Slam dreams in the near future.
Anisimova’s story is a testament to resilience and the power of familial support in the face of adversity. Her emotional tribute to her mother highlights the often unseen sacrifices made by athletes’ families, reminding us of the human side of sports.
