Amanda Anisimova's career trajectory has seen a significant ascent since her return to professional tennis in 2024, following an eight-month break taken to address mental and physical fatigue. This period of intentional reset proved pivotal, enabling her to achieve a career-best World No. 3 ranking in January and enter the U.S. Open ranked No. 10.
Anisimova, who recently partnered with Pure Leaf Iced Tea to share her journey, emphasized the importance of balance in her success. "I was never that athlete who performed well from overtraining or constantly being at tournaments and only having work to look forward to," she told The Post. "I’ve always been someone who needs to have a good balance and needs to go home and recharge my batteries, especially my mental energy."
Her approach contrasts with a past tendency to remain closed off about her struggles. "I never did well under those circumstances, or at least not long term," Anisimova stated. "I feel like now that I’m able to be more myself and talk about my experiences and be honest, I feel like I can connect to people a lot easier."
This shift in perspective has been reflected in her performance. Last year, she reached consecutive Grand Slam finals at Wimbledon and the U.S. Open. While she did not win against Iga Swiatek at Wimbledon, she engaged Aryna Sabalenka in a competitive match at Flushing Meadows.
Currently 24 years old, Anisimova has integrated practices such as five-minute breathing breaks and meditation into her routine to maintain a more present state of mind. She noted the positive shift in the narrative surrounding athletes and mental health. "It’s so important. If it can just help one person, then that makes me incredibly happy," she said.
Despite her recent successes, Anisimova remains driven to secure her first Grand Slam title. The U.S. Open holds a special place for her, and last year's finals appearance marked her deepest run in the tournament. "I’m very eager and motivated because I didn’t really achieve everything I would have wanted in terms of winning a Grand Slam, so I’m still working my way there and trying to get there," Anisimova commented, looking forward to competing again in New York. She added, "I’m obviously flooded with a lot of memories from last year and really looking forward to competing here."
A fan activation by Pure Leaf is scheduled to take place in Bryant Park on September 2, coinciding with the U.S. Open.