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Amanda Anisimova has announced that she would be taking an indefinite break from tennis. The 21-year-old American cited mental health issues for taking the break.
In an Instagram post, the 2019 French Open semi-finalist talked about battling with burnout for the last year and decided to pull back from regular tennis activities as a result. Shedding light on her personal feelings, Anisimova revealed that participating at events had become ‘unbearable’ which taxed her personal and professional commitments.
The Florida native shared that her next course of action would be to prioritize her mental well-being. Returning to the court will come later and she will miss the time away from the game.
“Hey guys. I though I’d made a post explaining what’s been going on and my plans. I’ve really been struggling with my mental health and burnout since the summer of 2022. It’s become unbearable being at tennis tournaments. At this point my priority is my mental well-being and taking a break for some time. I’ve worked as hard as I could to push through it. I will miss being out there, and I appreciate the continuous support 🤍✌️”
Amanda Anisimova says she’s been struggling with her mental health & will be taking a break from tennis 💔
Really sad to hear, but she’s brave for being open about it – especially during Mental Health Awareness Month
Stay strong & keep fighting Amanda ❤️🩹 pic.twitter.com/Waivu8raLm
— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) May 5, 2023
Troubles dealing with the spotlight
Amanda has been winless since February, struggling to give any semblance of the player that reached the quarterfinals at Wimbledon or the 17-year-old wide-eyed girl that surprised Simona Halep to book her place in the 2019 French Open semi-finals.
The 21-year-old suffered first-round losses at the US Open and Australian Open. A similar fate awaited her at the last three Masters events, Indian Wells, Miami Open and Madrid Open. She dropped 28 places in the WTA rankings after her most recent early exit.
Her withdrawal from the tour weeks before the French Open is a telling sign of the gravity of the decision. Dealing with the limelight has been troublesome for the 47-ranked ace, who has rightfully decided to take time off.
Anisimova came into public consciousness following her early exploits but failed to live up to the expectations. The death of her father, who was also her coach did not help her cause as well. In addition, she had to deal with injuries and COVID-19 complications on the tennis circuit, along with the regular circus.
♥️ pt1 pic.twitter.com/sS7Url5j0p
— Emma Raducanu (@EmmaRaducanu) May 3, 2023
Anisimova joins the ranks of Osaka
The American ace follows in the footsteps of Naomi Osaka, who has been outspoken about mental health. Osaka had to take a step back after being named the most abused athlete on Twitter. The Japanese ace took a break from the game in March 2021 and prioritized her personal life.
The four-time Grand Slam winner is preparing for welcoming her first child with rapper Cordeal and has announced she will be returning to the court in early 2024. The Australian Open is her target where she will be searching for her third triumph at the Rod Laver Arena.
Another player who can take heart from Anisimova’s decision is British ace Emma Raducanu. The 20-year-old has struggled to live up to her 2021 US Open triumph. Radcucanu has been on the circuit, struggling with injuries and jumping back at the first opportunity. While being hailed as a future top-10 player, she is being held back.
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